{"id":32378,"date":"2013-10-30T16:00:09","date_gmt":"2013-10-30T21:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.olemiss.edu\/?p=32378"},"modified":"2014-09-23T08:27:12","modified_gmt":"2014-09-23T13:27:12","slug":"former-secretary-of-education-visits-honors-college","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web20.olemiss.edu\/news\/wordpress\/former-secretary-of-education-visits-honors-college\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Secretary of Education Visits Honors College"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UM students meet with former U.S. Secretary of Education Bill Bennett in the Lyceum to discuss topics ranging from education to politics.<\/p><\/div>\n

OXFORD, Miss. \u2013 Former U. S. Secretary of Education William “Bill” Bennett, host of the nationally syndicated radio program “Morning in America,” talked with Honors College students during a round table forum earlier this week at the University of Mississippi.<\/p>\n

Bennett’s offering of seasoned insight about education in the United States was driven by a prepared group of students.<\/p>\n

“It was a very well-prepared group of students,” Bennett said. “They presented very well.”<\/p>\n

The discussion at the round table was driven by questions from students, calling upon Bennett’s extensive experience and insight into the American education system.<\/p>\n

“As part of a functioning economy, people are worried about jobs and have a certain nervousness about what the future holds,” Bennett said. “I think when you are studying, you need to get an idea of the possible job prospects.”<\/p>\n

Bennett suggested pushing for a stronger teaching core around the country to help students achieve more while earning an education.<\/p>\n

“I think excellence in teaching is critical, and it needs to encourage the reward,” he said. “I think anything that promotes raising the bar and raising standards is a great idea.”<\/p>\n

Bennett also entertained questions about the Chicago schools shutdown, the rise of technology and the online classroom, national and statewide standardized testing, and the implementation of Common Core State Standards.<\/p>\n

As he parted ways with the group, he was impressed by the thoughtfulness of the panel’s questions. “They had done their homework, and that is all a teacher can ask of their students.”<\/p>\n