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Obama defies unions to pick school reformer

By Andrew Ward in Washington

Published: December 16 2008 20:13 | Last updated: December 17 2008 03:12

Barack Obama chose the reform-minded head of the Chicago schools system on Tuesday as secretary of education and said teachers must accept greater accountability in return for more funds.

The president-elect praised Arne Duncan as a “hands- on” executive who had transformed Chicago’s troubled education system by championing good schools and shutting down failing ones.

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