Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Should US schools be run like businesses? - Inside Story: US 2012 - Al Jazeera English

Should US schools be run like businesses? - Inside Story: US 2012 - Al Jazeera English:

Should US schools be run like businesses?
Increased private sector involvement in US education is raising questions over the future of the public school system.
Inside Story US 2012 Last Modified: 11 Sep 2012 15:19
An estimated 26,000 public school teachers are on strike in Chicago – the first such action in the city for 25 years.

In Chicago and beyond, public school teachers say they are being attacked by the policies of both of the main political parties.
"When you look at the [various foundations] it's clear that there is a very explicit agenda driven by a lot of very wealthy people often from the hedge fund and tech industries …there is probably a lot of good intent but also a very narrow worldview..."
- Robin Rogers, an associate professor of sociology
They are locked in a dispute with administrators over issues that include pay, work conditions, job security and teacher evaluations.

The action represents a challenge for Rahm Emanuel, the mayor of Chicago and former chief of staff to Barack Obama, the US president. He has made changing the city's school system a top priority of his time in office, wanting more private sector involvement.
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