THE “ALMOST OUTRAGEOUS” OPPOSITION TO BILL GATES’ MARKET-BASED ED REFORM
Lindsey Layton inteviewed Bill Gates about his involvement in the Common Core,ending her article with Bill and Melinda’s motivation behind their financial backing of it. Lindsey reports:
“Gates dismissed any suggestion that he is motivated by self-interest.” ~ Lindsey Layton
Then Bill tells us in his own words what motivates his investments in Common Core and calls any opposition to his motivation “almost outrageous”:
“I believe in the Common Core because of its substance and what it will do to improve education,” he said. “And that’s the only reason I believe in the Common Core.”This is about giving money away,” he said of his support for the standards. “This is philanthropy. This is trying to make sure students have the kind of opportunity I had . . . and it’s almost outrageous to say otherwise, in my view.” ~ Bill Gates
Okay. Let’s go with Bill and Melinda’s best intentions. Why the opposition then?
As educators and parents of public school children we used critical thinking to consider the impacts of the market-based corporate reforms the Gates promote. Do they really help improve education, social problems, and the real gaping inequity Bill mentions? We considered the following questions about some of the key ingredients of fundamentalist market-based reforms:
- High tech devices promoted by Bill Gates as “personalized learning” via Common Core Pearson/Gates’ Surface Tablets competing with Apple iPadsThe “Almost Outrageous” Opposition to Bill Gates’ Market-Based Ed Reform | Educating The Gates Foundation: