--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the best thing that happened to…" description: "\"I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina,\" — Arne Duncan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/arne-duncan-11784_best-things_i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to_2770295.png" --- # I think the best thing that happened to the education… ![“I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina,” quote by Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/arne-duncan-11784_best-things_i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to_2770295.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/arne-duncan-11784_best-things_i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to_2770295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/arne-duncan-11784_best-things_i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to_2770295.png) > “I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina,” [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Katrina forced a massive overhaul of schools, leading to new policies and investments that improved outcomes for many students. **In simple terms:** Disaster spurred education reforms. Key Takeaway Leverage crises to drive systemic change. Themes education reform crisis response policy change Mood optimistic determined Type policy inspirational When to use this quote - school board meetings - policy planning - community advocacy Key Concepts public school revitalization charter schools funding reforms Questions to Reflect On - How can reforms be made equitable? - What lessons from crisis response apply elsewhere? A Different Perspective Reforms may not benefit all districts equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-system/) [Hurricane katrina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurricane-katrina/) [Hurricanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurricanes/) [Katrina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/katrina/) [New orleans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-orleans/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. We couldn't do it, but God did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baker/we-finally-cleaned-up-public-housing-in-new-orleans-after-hurricane-2/) [Richard Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baker/) > [We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. We couldn't do it, butGod did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baker/we-finally-cleaned-up-public-housing-in-new-orleans-after-hurricane/) [Richard Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baker/) > [I've been through so much, especially coming from New Orleans where there was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. I had to pick up. We had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/normani-kordei/i-ve-been-through-so-much-especially-coming-from-new-orleans-where/) [Normani Kordei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/normani-kordei/) > [Nothing has happened in education until it has happened to a student.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-carroll/nothing-has-happened-in-education-until-it-has-happened-to-a-student/) Joseph Carroll > [Thousands of people may have been killed by hurricane Katrina and many more could die in its aftermath because of the President's refusal to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thousands-of-people-may-have-been-killed-by-hurricane-katrina-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You saw on your TV what happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The Reserves or National Guard are usually the people we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/you-saw-on-your-tv-what-happened-in-new-orleans-after-hurricane/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Whether we're talking about what the role of the government is, what you think of the United Nations, political leaders or how to respond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-c-dawson/whether-we-re-talking-about-what-the-role-of-the-government-is-what/) [Michael C Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-c-dawson/) > [ I wrote these two songs \["Coming Out of the Dark" and "Always Tomorrow"\] as a celebration of hope. And I want to send it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/i-wrote-these-two-songs-coming-out-of-the-dark-and-always-tomorrow-as/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [I think it is absolutely reprehensible to believe that any member of this House, Democrat or Republican, would want to do anything that would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dreier/i-think-it-is-absolutely-reprehensible-to-believe-that-any-member-of/) David Dreier > [Hurricane Katrina is without question the worst natural disaster in American history,.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-brinkley/hurricane-katrina-is-without-question-the-worst-natural-disaster-in/) [Douglas Brinkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-brinkley/) > [Fraud is common when you give away billions. Fraud related to Hurricane Katrina spending is estimated to top $2 billion. In addition, debit cards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/fraud-is-common-when-you-give-away-billions-fraud-related-to/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [Atlanta is a big market for me. They've always supported my music. They took care of my people during Hurricane Katrina, so I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/master-p/atlanta-is-a-big-market-for-me-they-ve-always-supported-my-music-they/) [Master P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/master-p/) > [ Hurricane Katrina reiterated the need for \[access to\] medical records, ... ... But there's going to be a lot more needed than $4 million. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carper/hurricane-katrina-reiterated-the-need-for-access-to-medical-records/) [Thomas Carper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carper/) > [After a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, the federal government has a profound obligation to help those in need, .. Right now, the victims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/after-a-disaster-such-as-hurricane-katrina-the-federal-government-has/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed levees and exploded the conventional wisdom about a shared American prosperity, exposing a group of people so poor they didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/hurricane-katrina-overwhelmed-levees-and-exploded-the-conventional/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) ## More by Arne Duncan > [ I just think we can't do enough of this \[student exchanges\]... And when you get young children traveling internationally, I think they come back… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/i-just-think-we-can-t-do-enough-of-this-student-exchanges-and-when/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Other countries haves passed us by. They're outworking us. They're outcompeting us. We have got to wake up and we have got to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/other-countries-haves-passed-us-by-they-re-outworking-us-they-re/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [We all have a role to play - the President, Congress, parents, students and schools - in making college affordable and keeping the middle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/we-all-have-a-role-to-play-the-president-congress-parents-students/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [States should not balance their budgets on the backs of students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/states-should-not-balance-their-budgets-on-the-backs-of-students/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Borrowing to pay for college used to be the exception; now it's the rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/borrowing-to-pay-for-college-used-to-be-the-exception-now-it-s-the/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Far too many of our children today, our students, need remedial education. We have been lying to them. They're not really ready for college.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/far-too-many-of-our-children-today-our-students-need-remedial/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Whether it's in an inner-city school or a rural community, I want those students to have a chance to take A.P. biology and A.P.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/whether-it-s-in-an-inner-city-school-or-a-rural-community-i-want/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [So instead of watching TV, we read every night together as a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/so-instead-of-watching-tv-we-read-every-night-together-as-a-family/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Surveys show that many talented and committed young people are reluctant to enter teaching for the long haul because they think the profession is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/surveys-show-that-many-talented-and-committed-young-people-are/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Almost 24 million children - one in three - are likely growing up without their father involved in their lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/almost-24-million-children-one-in-three-are-likely-growing-up-without/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [We've seen more reform in the last year than we've seen in decades, and we haven't spent a dime yet. It's staggering how the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/we-ve-seen-more-reform-in-the-last-year-than-we-ve-seen-in-decades/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [I believe that education is the civil rights issue of our generation. And if you care about promoting opportunity and reducing inequality, the classroom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/i-believe-that-education-is-the-civil-rights-issue-of-our-generation/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [Historically the Department of Education hasn't been doing enough to drive the sustainability movement, and today, I promise that we will be a committed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/historically-the-department-of-education-hasn-t-been-doing-enough-to/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [State governments generate less revenue in a recession. As state leaders struggle to make up for lost revenue, legislatures tend to cut funding for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/state-governments-generate-less-revenue-in-a-recession-as-state/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) > [We have had this massive effort on K-12 reform, raising standards, great teachers, great principals, turning around chronically failing schools, raising the bar, huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/we-have-had-this-massive-effort-on-k-12-reform-raising-standards/) [Arne Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) [Explore all 58 Arne Duncan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/) ## More Best things quotes > [I need the best things in life, that's women, thats cars. Cigars in Venice, bottle on ice, thats priceless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-need-the-best-things-in-life-that-s-women-thats-cars-cigars-in/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [It hurt, of course, but more often than not the best things do, I've found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/it-hurt-of-course-but-more-often-than-not-the-best-things-do-i-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to be able to quote another's wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-nestell-bovee/the-next-best-thing-to-being-witty-one-s-self-is-to-be-able-to-be/) [Christian Nestell Bovee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-nestell-bovee/) > [I really believe that our past can really hold us back from growth, so the best thing that we can do is MOVE ON…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-harper/i-really-believe-that-our-past-can-really-hold-us-back-from-growth-so/) [Bob Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-harper/) > [The best thing for you to do is shop at your local farmer's market and support the organic growers who are there. Because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-best-thing-for-you-to-do-is-shop-at-your-local-farmer-s-market/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [The best thing about the term 'performance artist' is that it includes just about everything you might want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/the-best-thing-about-the-term-performance-artist-is-that-it-includes/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [The best things in life are free. Sunsets and sunrises are free. Air is free. Love is free. Death is free. The best things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-best-things-in-life-are-free-sunsets-and-sunrises-are-free-air-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I always wanted to be a player, but I never had the talent to make the big leagues. So I did the next best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-finley/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-player-but-i-never-had-the-talent-to-make-the/) Charlie Finley > [I was a 36C or D, and at 5' 1'', I knew that being a small person with big boobs standing in front of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janeane-garofalo/i-was-a-36c-or-d-and-at-5-1-i-knew-that-being-a-small-person-with-big/) [Janeane Garofalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janeane-garofalo/) > [Each time I stop somewhere and look out, there are more people sitting there than there were the time I came before. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/each-time-i-stop-somewhere-and-look-out-there-are-more-people-sitting/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [One of the best things that happened for me as a playwright is becoming a comic-book writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-aguirre-sacasa/one-of-the-best-things-that-happened-for-me-as-a-playwright-is/) [Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-aguirre-sacasa/) > [I don't really know who I am as an actor: the best thing would be to experiment with it for the next 30 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-barnes/i-don-t-really-know-who-i-am-as-an-actor-the-best-thing-would-be-to/) [Ben Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-barnes/) > [The best thing about time passing is the privilege of running out of it, of watching the wave of mortality break over me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-manguso/the-best-thing-about-time-passing-is-the-privilege-of-running-out-of/) [Sarah Manguso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-manguso/) > [What was the best thing before sliced bread?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/what-was-the-best-thing-before-sliced-bread/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [The best thing about waking up early is seeing the sun rise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgit-mendler/the-best-thing-about-waking-up-early-is-seeing-the-sun-rise/) [Bridgit Mendler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgit-mendler/) [Browse all 1,021 Best things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina,", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arne Duncan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to-the-education-system-in-new/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to-the-education-system-in-new/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/arne-duncan-11784_best-things_i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to_2770295.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/arne-duncan-11784_best-things_i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to_2770295.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/326/arne-duncan-11784_best-things_i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to_2770295.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina,” — Arne Duncan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Arne Duncan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arne-duncan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the best thing that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to-the-education-system-in-new/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arne-duncan/i-think-the-best-thing-that-happened-to-the-education-system-in-new/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```