Schools Matter: The Basics of the Competency-Based [sic] Scam

Schools Matter: The Basics of the Competency-Based [sic] Scam:

The Basics of the Competency-Based [sic] Scam

Emily Talmage and Alison Hawser McDowell have done major sleuthing into the dark world of "competency-based" education (CBE), which is now the next big thing in corporate education reform.  Sure, charter schools will continue to drain public systems for as long as the public remains uninformed about the greed, racism, and elitist paternalism driving these Wall Street missionaries, but as the public wakes up to the charter scam, the competency-based, "personalized" isolation of online or hybrid schooling will be ready to gain ascendancy, from elementary school through college.  That is why it is so important now to know what is going on in pilot programs across the country and large scale in some states like Maine and New Hampshire.  Alison McDowell wrote this insightful piece last fall.  I have provided some links to Alison's piece for those who find this all new.

by Alison Hawser McDowell
Emily Talmage noticed a connection between ed reformers, those funding CBE, and student loan financing. I was thinking about it today, and I think I see how it will play out. Follow the money. Who stands to gain?

1. Move to the idea of online credentialing. Call it standards-based skills mastery, etc. Get everyone on board with CBE.
2. Break down old-fashioned notion of "seat time." Everything is student-centered and self paced. You don't really need true distinctions between high school (even middle school) and community college and four-year college and professional certifications. It's all just one process of gathering up the "bits" of education required.
3. Collecting badges is seamless and you just transition without any real breaks. If they get rid of physical school buildings and campuses and move learning into an online virtual world that will be easy.
4. Accept that a four-year liberal arts education will be beyond the financial reach of most people. Provide federal funding for community college.
5. Take over the boards of the community colleges to ensure they only offer coursework that is pre-professional and serves industry's needs. 
6. Have the government underwrite or subsidize Associates degrees to boost college completion for more students. But at the end, the students will still need more training.
7. Online for profit [and non-profit] companies (Florida Virtual School and Western Governor's University models) will offer students the chance to get their needed credentials for a price much lower than a Schools Matter: The Basics of the Competency-Based [sic] Scam: