Washington ( CNN ) -- Proving once again that any controversy will be intensified -- if not illuminated -- by random references to race , class , and gender , Education Secretary Arne Duncan has ignited a storm of protest by noting opposition from `` white suburban moms '' to one of his prized educational initiatives . In a meeting with state education chiefs Friday , Duncan said some opposition to the Common Core State Standards -- a controversial effort to standardize education -- has come from parents displeased that test results have exposed local weaknesses . Duncan said he found it `` fascinating '' that opponents include `` white suburban moms who -- all of a sudden -- ( discovered that ) their child is n't as bright as they thought they were , and their school is n't quite as good as they thought they were . '' Duncan apologized for the remark Monday afternoon . Speaking to CNN , he said : `` My wording , my phrasing , was a little clumsy and I apologize for that . '' Duncan said his point was that the goal is to prepare U.S. students for a `` globally competitive work force '' and to challenge education leaders to better explain to parents why higher standards are needed and what it takes to achieve them . `` I did n't say them perfectly , and I apologize for that , '' he added . `` My point is that children from every demographic across this country need a well-rounded , world-class education and frankly we have challenges not just in our inner cities but in our suburban areas , too , and we need to have honest conversations about that . '' The `` white suburban moms '' remark was first reported Friday by Politico , which later reported that Duncan backpedaled , saying that he `` did n't say it perfectly . '' The incident , if nothing else , is thrusting Common Core State Standards into red-hot glare of politically oriented social media . Duncan has pushed the initiative , which seeks to establish a single set of educational standards for kindergarten through high school for math and English . Advocates say the standards are essential to improve student skills , prepare them for college , and make the United States competitive with other nations . But opponents say the standards instill students with elitist values and rob communities of local control of schools . The remarks triggered a barrage of online comments , and a WhiteHouse.gov petition . As of noon Monday , 1,800 people had signed the petition to remove Duncan as secretary of education . A separate ' '' National Do n't Send Your Child to School Day , '' protest over the standards has gained thousands of supporters on its Facebook page , though the number of children who were kept from school is unclear . Conservative commentator and Common Core foe Michelle Malkin scolded Duncan . `` Ohhhh yes , the red blood underneath my brown skin is boiling . This Obama educrat has stepped in it . Big time . Race card-wielding Education Secretary Arne Duncan is nothing but a corrupt and bankrupt bigot , '' Malkin wrote . Tweeted Randi Winegarten , president of the American Federation of Teachers : `` Arne-if u are reading- you shld walk this back..very insensitive-and not right-moms care abt their kids ! ! One Virginia-area mother posted a personal response on the left-leaning DailyKos arguing that Duncan missed the point . She said her own son was late to focus and achieve , and standardized testing would have marginalized him . `` I do n't fight the Common Core because I think my child is brilliant , but because I 'm tired of these one size fits all educational solutions , '' wrote Gretchen Moran Laskas . `` So yes , I 'm opposed . Not because I do n't understand it . Not because I think it will make my children look bad . But because I know that children already look bad -- and by the time they might get it together and look good the way ( my son ) could , it might be too late . '' A Department of Education official said in an e-mail that , in making his remarks , Duncan was encouraging state education chiefs to better communicate why higher standards are so important . `` The far right and far left have made up their minds , '' spokesman Massie Ritsch wrote . `` But there 's angst in the middle -- which includes many open-minded suburban parents -- that needs to be addressed . '' `` Arne -- a white suburban dad married to a white suburban mom , with two kids in public schools -- has always been clear that test scores are an imperfect measure of student achievement and school quality , but tests are an indicator nonetheless , '' Ritsch wrote . `` And when that indicator conflicts with parents ' notions of their child 's abilities or their school 's quality , it 's understandable that some parents would be concerned . '' The White House spokesman also defended Duncan , though Jay Carney said he had not seen all the comments . `` His point was that we need to be honest with kids and parents -- all can agree on that , '' Carney said on Monday .
NEW : In remarks to CNN , Duncan apologizes for his choice of words . The `` white suburban moms '' comment came in a meeting with state education chiefs . He was talking about the Common Core State Standards , a controversial effort . Writes one commentator : `` This Obama educrat has stepped in it . Big time ''