Dive Brief:
- U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan traveled to Ferguson, MO, Tuesday to meet with teachers, students, and protestors as he develops a better understanding of the region's educational needs.
- Specifically, Duncan told KSDK that the trip was a chance to find out how education can address and mend the tense relationships, anger, and social issues that surfaced following the police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager.
- After visiting a high school in the city, Duncan expressed hope that education would help build new relationships between police officers and students.
Dive Insight:
President Barack Obama's push to minimize zero-tolerance punishments could be a good starting point when it comes to building those relationships. This mentality is often missing from law enforcement interactions with suspects and, unfortunately, the same relationships are mirrored in schools.
In addition to talking about building connections between students and police, KSDK reports that Duncan discussed the importance of early childhood development, classroom resources, and economic disparities seen across the district.