Education Secretary Arne Duncan Exits. What Did He Teach Us?

The rhetorical booster of school choice has a history of opposing school choice.

The White House announced Friday that Arne Duncan, the Education Secretary and one of the few original members of President Obama's cabinet to remain, will be leaving his position in December.

Obama initially described Duncan's focus for education reform as follows: "Secretary Duncan will use only one test when deciding what ideas to support with your precious tax dollars. It's not whether an idea is liberal or conservative, but whether it works."

But Duncan's tenure proved much more friendly to unions and much less friendly to school choice than the "it works" standard would suggest—at least, if your concern is aimed at students and not at powerful, politically-connected organizations.

Take a look back with Reason TV at one of the original hit jobs perpetrated by the Obama administration under the guidance of Duncan, on the DC voucher system. And then bid Arne farewell.

Watch Barack Obama & the DC School Voucher System below. Originally published on May 4, 2009.