WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige Tuesday apologized for calling the teachers union "terrorists" saying it was "born out of frustration."
In an op ed piece published in the Dallas Morning News, Paige said he was "sorry for the hurt caused," but added the comment "was born out of frustration at the depth of the problem in our schools."
The remainder of the article discussed what he saw as the problems with complaints about the 2001 No Child Left Behind education reform act.
The apology referred to a comment Paige made last month at a meeting of governors at the White House regarding the National Education Association, which then sought his ouster.
In the article, Paige also said, "my disappointment was directed only -- and I mean only -- at the union heads in Washington who have been opposing any and all educational reforms, no matter what the consequences to our children."
