[RSCT] RTTT, democracy, privatization and charters

[Monty Neill]

The always insightful and very valuable dialog between Diane Ravitch and Deb Meier continues. Their latest exchange was prompted by a New York Times article on how very wealthy hedge fund types are pouring money into charter schools. 

You can read their exchange here http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/Bridging-Differences/  - Diane's is the most recent, so hers is at the top; Deb initiated this point, so is below, but below that is an exchange on Race to the Top.

Just a couple extracts:

from Diane:

Today, with the proliferation of charter schools, we may be seeing a resurgence of the historic pattern as public schools are privatized and taken over by very rich men (and women) who see themselves as saviors of the children of the poor. Naturally, you find this a repellent portrait because it undermines the democratic foundations of public education. It means that our society will increasingly rely on the good will of wealthy patrons to educate children of color. It means that education is seen as a private charity rather than as a public responsibility. Let's hope that the new owners who have taken over these schools are able to sustain their interest. After all, having 500 children in your care is not the same as having a stable of polo ponies or a vineyard in Napa Valley. If the children don't produce results that make the sponsors proud, they may pick a different hobby.

and from Deb:
The oddest thing, as you note, Diane, is that New York City's mayor himself takes credit for the charters, but not blame for the public schools he directly controls. He's a fanatic for test scores, but the NAEP scores (the only psychometrically reliable tests NYC students take-in 4th and 8th grades) show no improvement since 2003 in math or reading. [snip]

While K-12 education was made universal because it seemed important that every single potential citizen be well-educated if democracy was to flourish, we have substituted the idea of democracy with the idea of the "marketplace." The less regulated, the better-ditto for charters. "Good" charter states are those considered by their allies to be those that are least regulated. Does it sound familiar? (Actually, there is relatively little interest in charters outside of urban poor neighborhoods-by voters or hedge-funders.)

Monty
Monty Neill, Ed.D.
Interim Executive Director
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