--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do look upon the secretary of…" description: "\"I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child in A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/mark-shields-1572_children_i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-educatio_42028.png" --- # I do look upon the secretary of education's primary… ![“I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child in American public schools receives.” quote by Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/mark-shields-1572_children_i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-educatio_42028.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/mark-shields-1572_children_i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-educatio_42028.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/mark-shields-1572_children_i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-educatio_42028.png) > “I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child in American public schools receives.” [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes that the chief duty of the education secretary is to ensure high-quality teaching and to enhance learning outcomes for every child in U.S. public schools. **In simple terms:** Focus on education quality and equity Key Takeaway Leadership must prioritize universal educational improvement Themes education policy leadership equity quality improvement public schooling Mood determined concerned optimistic Type policy statement visionary claim When to use this quote - state education department planning - school board decision making - parent advocacy meetings - teacher professional development sessions Key Concepts policy responsibility student outcomes systemic reform Practical Applications - designing national curriculum standards - allocating resources for school improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can policymakers measure true educational quality? - What strategies best address disparities across districts? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Public school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-school/) [Public schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-schools/) [Quality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality/) [Quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quality-education/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) ## Related quotes > [As secretary of education, a parent, and a former teacher and principal, I've seen that no matter a parent's political leaning, their top priority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/as-secretary-of-education-a-parent-and-a-former-teacher-and-principal/) [Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/) > [Was putting a man on the moon actually easier than improving education in our public schools?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-f-skinner/was-putting-a-man-on-the-moon-actually-easier-than-improving/) [B. F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/education-is-for-improving-the-lives-of-others-and-for-leaving-your/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [The secretary of education does not work for the education establishment. The secretary works for the American people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bennett/the-secretary-of-education-does-not-work-for-the-education/) [William Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bennett/) > [The American education system couldn't be more badly directed or poorly funded if the Secretary of Education were Ed Wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/the-american-education-system-couldn-t-be-more-badly-directed-or/) [Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/) > [As U.S. secretary of Education, I will ensure that my department, as directed by the president, creates a best practices clearinghouse that removes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cardona/as-u-s-secretary-of-education-i-will-ensure-that-my-department-as/) [Miguel Cardona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-cardona/) > [I believe Betsy DeVos has the talent, commitment, and leadership capacity to revitalize our public schools and deliver the promise of opportunity that excellent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-moskowitz/i-believe-betsy-devos-has-the-talent-commitment-and-leadership/) [Eva Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-moskowitz/) > [All boys and girls should have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education, no matter what part of the country they live in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-bachelet/all-boys-and-girls-should-have-the-opportunity-to-receive-a-high/) [Michelle Bachelet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-bachelet/) > [As a father, husband of a schoolteacher and governor of Louisiana, I am committed to improving education for all children in Louisiana.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bel-edwards/as-a-father-husband-of-a-schoolteacher-and-governor-of-louisiana-i-am/) [John Bel Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bel-edwards/) > [I reject the notion that supporting our dedicated classroom teachers is at odds with improving the education our children receive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bel-edwards/i-reject-the-notion-that-supporting-our-dedicated-classroom-teachers/) [John Bel Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bel-edwards/) > [By assessing the capabilities and knowledge of students in the highest-performing and most rapidly improving education systems, the OECD's Program for International Student Assessment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/by-assessing-the-capabilities-and-knowledge-of-students-in-the/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education. It is the key to the survival of the human race. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lucas/i-am-dedicating-the-majority-of-my-wealth-to-improving-education-it/) [George Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lucas/) > [We are currently working on new policies to protect and create American jobs, particularly by improving education. We need more information in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-lipinski/we-are-currently-working-on-new-policies-to-protect-and-create/) [Dan Lipinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-lipinski/) > [As Governor of North Carolina for two terms, I made improving education a top priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-governor-of-north-carolina-for-two-terms-i-made-improving/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I feel there is so much more we can do in improving education, making it accessible and understanding how technology can be a part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-breyer/i-feel-there-is-so-much-more-we-can-do-in-improving-education-making/) [Jim Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-breyer/) ## More by Mark Shields > [I'm not sure Betsy DeVos has ever spent a day in a public school. And I don't - I'm pretty sure Donald Trump hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-m-not-sure-betsy-devos-has-ever-spent-a-day-in-a-public-school-and/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump is sounding the same theme he has sounded since May or June of 2015.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-is-sounding-the-same-theme-he-has-sounded-since-may-or/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Dan Coats, retiring senator from Indiana, a mild-mannered man, a former United States ambassador to Germany, former congressman, said of Ted Cruz he's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/dan-coats-retiring-senator-from-indiana-a-mild-mannered-man-a-former/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [It's interesting how identity politics and Ann Coulter-style tactics have now blossomed. But they were always there in CPAC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/it-s-interesting-how-identity-politics-and-ann-coulter-style-tactics/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [When you run for president of the United States, everybody does the same thing in the campaign-they talk about veterans, how much they admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/when-you-run-for-president-of-the-united-states-everybody-does-the/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Americans don't like powerful figures who punch down, that is, who pick on someone less powerful and less able to speak for themselves than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/americans-don-t-like-powerful-figures-who-punch-down-that-is-who-pick/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Everyone has to take Donald Trump seriously, and I think that's what we're seeing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/everyone-has-to-take-donald-trump-seriously-and-i-think-that-s-what/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Donald Trump defies gravity. And so I guess he has to be Donald Trump. It's gotten him so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/donald-trump-defies-gravity-and-so-i-guess-he-has-to-be-donald-trump/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [ My church \[Catholisism\] is hurting from arrogance and from its indifference to the suffering of children that were abused and the inclination of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/my-church-catholisism-is-hurting-from-arrogance-and-from-its/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [America is Republican until 5:00 or 6:00 at night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/america-is-republican-until-5-00-or-6-00-at-night/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [John Kerry's biography was central to his campaign.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/john-kerry-s-biography-was-central-to-his-campaign/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [I think Guantanamo, has been synonymous with the staining of American values and American legal tradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-think-guantanamo-has-been-synonymous-with-the-staining-of-american/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Stronger together is, I think, a preposition and a comparative adjective, but it's not really an action verb or what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/stronger-together-is-i-think-a-preposition-and-a-comparative/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [If you only make fights that you're going to win, there would be no women's vote in America, there would be no civil rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/if-you-only-make-fights-that-you-re-going-to-win-there-would-be-no/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) > [Peter Hart, the pollster, has a question when he asks about presidential or vice presidential candidates, what kind of a neighbor would they be?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/peter-hart-the-pollster-has-a-question-when-he-asks-about/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) [Explore all 227 Mark Shields quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child in American public schools receives.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mark Shields" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/mark-shields-1572_children_i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-educatio_42028.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/mark-shields-1572_children_i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-educatio_42028.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/mark-shields-1572_children_i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-educatio_42028.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and…” — Mark Shields", "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": "Mark Shields", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I do look upon the secretary...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/#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 } } ] } ```