Duncan apologizes for Katrina remark

Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Tuesday apologized for saying that Hurricane Katrina was the "best thing that happened" to education in the New Orleans school system.

Duncan said that he made his observation in an improper way but stressed that the city's school system has improved.

"I said it in a poor way and I apologize for that," he said on MSNBC. "It was a dumb thing to say."

The Education secretary made his comments, which drew some fire, this past Sunday on TV One's "Washington Watch" when asked about the impact of the devastating hurricane on New Orleans.

Duncan called New Orelans Mayor Ray Nagin on Monday to explain his remarks.

Student perfomance has improved in the city after Katrina caused schools to close for months in 2005 and 2006 after residents were driven from their homes and schools were destroyed.

"That school system has improved so rapidly, it's a wonderful thing to watch," Duncan said. "The school system is strong again where it was relatively weak before."

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