Corporate Reformers Say Money Doesn’t Matter in Public Schools. The Facts Say Otherwise.
By Tim WalkerOne of the most destructive myths propagated by so-called education “reformers” is that fully funding public education is merely throwing away more money. The arguments go something like this: Money can’t solve everything, what we need is better accountability for students and teachers. Larger classes don’t matter if you have first-rate teachers. What has all this money gotten our schools so far? And so on and so on. It boils down to the old standby, “pull yourself by the bootstraps,” and has obstructed the effort to have an honest public debate about what is needed to help all students succeed.
In this excerpt from their new book, 50 Myths and Lies That Threaten America’s Public Schools: The Real Crisis in Education, education psychologist David C. Berliner and education professor Gene V. Glass dissect the propaganda and misinformation that has for too long sustained the “money doesn’t matter” fallacy.
Myth: Money Doesn’t Matter. We’re Spending More Money Than Ever But Test Scores Are Stagnant
By David C. Berliner and Gene V. Glass
According to a number of very vocal politicians and business leaders, we Americans are pouring vast sums of money down the drain of a broken public education system. Backed by researchers in conservative think tanks, these individuals have long argued that while the cost of running schools is increasing at an alarming rate, we have little to show for it when we look at our test scores. The logical conclusion seems to be that money doesn’t matter. The frequency and fervency of this argument have escalated in recent years—accompanied by deeper and deeper cuts to state education budgets.
Linda Darling-Hammond, one of the most perceptive analysts on the state of U.S. education, once remarked Corporate Reformers Say Money Doesn’t Matter in Public Schools. The Facts Say Otherwise. | NEA Today:
National School Nurse Day is May 8
National School Nurse Day, May 7, 2014, is a time to celebrate the specialty practice of school nursing. The theme this year, “The School Nurse: Caring for Others. Caring for Ourselves.” is reflective of the significant roles school nurses have in the healthcare in their school communities, as well as in modeling health and resiliency. Find out more at the National Association of School Nurses.