At NH forum, US education secretary tells dads: Turn off TV, spend more time with your kids

Fed education chief to dads: Turn off TV, read

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Education Secretary Arne Duncan says dads need to turn off the TV and spend more time with their kids, and schools must do more to make fathers part of their children’s education.

Duncan was in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday for a community forum on responsible fatherhood. He told nonprofit groups from around New England that the school day, week and year should be extended in part to allow schools to work with community groups more.

Duncan also says that while parental engagement is particularly important for the youngest children, dads shouldn’t forget about teenagers, either.

The meeting was organized by the White House as part of an initiative President Barack Obama introduced in June.