Education Post: A Sorry Attempt to Repackage Privatization as “Conversation”
September 3, 2014
There is a test-score-driven, privatizing war on public schools and on the teaching profession.
It is no secret that those chiefly financing the war stand above the chaos they create via their “philanthropy.” In short, they use their billions in order to promote their own ideal of American education privatization.
And it seems that they are able to enlist countless toadies to do their bidding.
In my book, A Chronicle of Echoes, I document the creators and supporters of this war and the twisted exchange of string-laden, “donated” money for abundant profiteering opportunities.
In chapter 23 of my book, I examine the “big three” foundations fueling the traditional public school funeral pyre: Broad, Gates, and Walton.
Allow me to offer a brief summary of their key “contributions.”
The Big Three in Busting Up That “Traditional Public School” Notion
Broad actively works to supplant school administrators who rise from the teaching ranks with those from the outside, who he assumes are “better leaders.” Broad trains its “superintendents” in a mystery curriculum; however, based upon the actions of such “superintendents”, it is not difficult to surmise that their objective is to replace traditionally trained classroom teachers with the “instant grits” version, temporary Teach for America (TFA) recruits– a transient, disposable work force especially useful in area with privately-run charters. Broad has pumped millions into TFA.
Walton also spends millions on TFA, and Walton is really into “school choice” (charters and vouchers. Walton has even purchased its own “education reform department” at the University of Arkansas– a “department” focused upon making certain that “choice” looks good before a public that does not realize that the financial backing of this “department” is biased toward a favorable charter-voucher image.
Walton likes “choice” and TFA so much because the Waltons believe in skimping as much as possible on that “bottom line.” TFA is a disposable work force– no health benefits; no retirement. And “choice” via under-regulated charters and vouchers means abolishing public funding in favor of a completely-profit-driven education enterprise. Who cares if it works– and who cares if “charter choice” is especially embroiled in scandal– just so long as there is the possibility of nurturing billionaire greed by not paying taxes to support public institutions.
When it comes to their own workers, Walmart purposely does not give workers full-time hours and actually show its employees how to apply for government assistance– the cheap way to preserve the Walton billions. And they despise unions. It is much Education Post: A Sorry Attempt to Repackage Privatization as “Conversation” | deutsch29: