Today's School Reformers

It is clear that the current message of the vast majority of corporate school 'reformers' is based on a whole host of issues.  Most favor vouchers, support for-profit and not for-profit charters, back standardized testing, desire to see student test results mirrored in teacher evaluations and wish to see you unions limited or eliminated.   By the way, they want to make cuts to various programs and are not hesistant about slashing budgets.  These are but some ways reformers want to go about the business of public education.

This isn't reform, my friends, this is an attempt to lay the blame for alleged school failure (notice I said alleged) at the footsteps of the schools and America's public school teachers.  If you don't think it's a blame game just look at some of the stories or editorials in major media outlets.  By the way, just because a radio station, blog, tv network or cable station says education is broken doesn't mean it's so.  How many people who castigate education rally understand the ins and outs of teaching and learning in the 21st century?   Not that many.

A fair number of the so called 'reformers' do have a stake in the game.   Some of them stand to make money through testing, preparing testing assessments, establishing corporate organizations to run various non-traditional public schools or by selling various ancillary services and products connected to these, and other, initiatives.   Many have much to gain.

Take a closer look at these 'reformers.'   Are they truly interested in helping a young person grow, mature and be the beneficiary of a well rounded education?   Are their motives designed to allow young people to be exposed to new ideas?   Do they really have the best interests of everyone in mind?  You be the judge.

Dick