Interview with David Bollier: Viewing Education as a Commons
Two weeks ago I posted an entry that pointed to the "investment" wealthy reformers were making in the Los Angeles school board race, and suggested this was evidence that there was, indeed, a "billionaire boys club" funding the advance of market-driven education reform. One commenter took me to task, asserting that education MUST be viewed as a market, and that any other framework is useless. I offered the concept of the commons as an alternative, and went hunting for someone who could explain this idea more clearly, especially in relationship to education. I found David Bollier, who had delivered this talk describing the commons last year. I asked Dr. Bollier to share some thoughts with us about education and the commons.
Question 1. Can you explain what is meant by "the commons"?
Economists and politicians have long assumed that there are really only two sectors for governing things and "adding value" -- the state and the market. Markets are seen as the vehicle for economic progress while the state deals with governance and everything else. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that there is another sector - the commons - that is at least as important to our lives and well being. The commons consists of those
Question 1. Can you explain what is meant by "the commons"?
Economists and politicians have long assumed that there are really only two sectors for governing things and "adding value" -- the state and the market. Markets are seen as the vehicle for economic progress while the state deals with governance and everything else. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that there is another sector - the commons - that is at least as important to our lives and well being. The commons consists of those