Arne Duncan schedules a visit to a charter school in D.C. and praises Watch D.O.G.S., a program to encourage fathers to volunteer at schools.
From the DOE press release:
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will encourage fathers and father figures to become more involved in education at a Watch D.O.G.S. program taking place at Two Rivers Public Charter School on Monday, June 13, 2011. Duncan will be joined by Principle Maggie Bello and Watch D.O.G.S. coordinator Eric Snow. He will tour the school and discuss the importance of father involvement in schools and education with students, parents and community members. He will also visit with participants of the Watch D.O.G.S. program and children who they've impacted. Duncan's visit is part of this Administration's Year of Strong Fathers, Strong Families, an initiative to support and encourage father engagement in their children's lives. WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering. The program organizes fathers and father figures in order to provide positive male role models for students and enhance school security. Participants volunteer to serve at least one day each year in a variety of school activities. Today, there are more than 2,000 active programs in 40 states and New Zealand that participate in the WATCH D.O.G.S. Program.
That’s fine, but I’d rather see him show some support by funding research into why so many boys are dis-engaging from school.