President-elect Barack Obama nominated Arne Duncan to serve as secretary of education. Duncan is the head of Chicago's public schools and a friend of Obama. Duncan's work with expanding educational opportunities for underprivileged children make him an excellent choice for the position. Many public schools are a mess, sending concerned parents flocking to private schools for their children. It takes someone who understands the severity of this problem to improve education in America. When it comes to something as important as our children's futures, we need someone who will take on the role not as a job, but as a passion.