Billionaires’ School Reform: What It Means for Teachers and Students

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.labornotes.org/2011/01/billionaires-school-reform-what-it-means-teachers-and-students

Julie Cavanagh | February 1, 2011



Education “reform” is dominated by a privileged few who seek to change schooling from a public service to a lucrative business. Photo: Jim West.


The public conversation around education “reform” is dominated by a privileged few who seek to change schooling from a public service to a lucrative business.

Millionaires and billionaires, such as Bill Gates, Eli Broad, and the Walton family, owners of Wal-Mart, have spent years pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into think tanks and political campaigns.

They have captured the media through projects like the movie “Waiting for Superman” and NBC’s “Education Nation.” Their intent is clear: to gain control of public opinion and public policy and open up access to what they refer to as the K-12 “market,” namely, our schools.

Sadly, the Obama administration, led by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, has the same plan.

Two years ago I faced the billionaires’ agenda head on when my Triple A-rated public school was forced to give up part of our building to a privately run education corporation, commonly called a charter school. The charter was founded by the son of billionaire hedge-funder Julian Robertson.

FULL story at link.

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[mmonk]

2. Recommended.

It will not improve learning and make what we used to take for granted more expensive.

[Iris]

3. Frightening. In a meeting yesterday, a Dean of Education told me that studies show class size has

nothing to do with student retention. Really? I plan to find those studies because it sounds like propaganda to me

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. They pulled those studies out of their ass back in the 80s

And you're right- they are nothing but propaganda.

Tell your dean there are newer more credible studies from the 90s that link reduced class size with increased achievement.

[Iris]

15. Thanks! I plan to look for these studies myself later today and the timeframes will help.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Sorry I am no help

This was all pre-internet.

[Starry Messenger]

4. Thank you Steve!

k&r

[no_hypocrisy]

5. The "reforms" to compensation and pensions is an abomination by themselves.

But what really chills me is how teachers will be expected to teach a new program altogether to the students. Instead of opening their minds and imaginations, they will be forcefed a set of principles they cannot question. Teaching to the tests. No art or music. Minimal physical education if any. Abolition of recess. Teachers being fired for low scores by their students.

[demmiblue]

6. KR&B

"In addition, charter schools largely have prevented their workers from organizing. Their ability to fire employees for any reason prevents educators and staff from advocating for the children."

Yep.

[rurallib]

7. this really needs to hit the front page.

Of all the things the Repubs have wrecked, education is probably the one with the most long term damage.

[DrDan]

9. unfortunately, taxpayers don't care. Tax cuts Tax cuts Tax cuts - regardless of the long-term cost

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. But it's not just the republicans

They started this crap back in the 70s but the Democrats jumped on board when Obama was elected and chose Arne Duncan as Sec of Ed.

[DrDan]

8. it is just criminal what is going on today - in Florida, we have a class-size limit

that the R's have been trying to overturn for years.

My wife has 195 students per day. The class size applies only to "core classes", so to make the numbers, other classes take the overflow.

Gotta give Jeb credit - he was leading the way with this "reform".

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. In MO, class size was a mandate. A few years ago they changed it to 'recommended'

Absolutely nothing happens when a school district has class sizes larger than what the state recommends.

So their recommendation is a freakin joke.

We have a kindergarten class in my school with 37 kids.

[DrDan]

17. that is terrible - 37 in a kindergarten class - In Florida they eliminated all Teacher Aide

positions. So there is no help in those early childhood classes for the daily individual attention so necessary when some "crisis" hits one of those 5-year olds. Just a crime.

[lonestarnot]

10. Any place they can smell money is in danger.

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. This needs to be a bumper sticker!

Education “reform” is dominated by a privileged few who seek to change schooling from a public service to a lucrative business.

Thank you Steve!

[Dawson Leery]

18. There is a reason as to why billionaires need to pay more taxes.

[Omaha Steve]

19. Kick