A school board that is appointed by a single person is a far cry from a democratic process. Mandating that a school not be allowed to unionize is simply wrong and it smacks in the face of free speech. The federal government deciding what subjects will be emphasized, scrutinized and tested in a school's curriculum while largely ignoring large swaths of learning and instruction flies in the face of democracy.
Yes, school boards and departments within a school building may argue, debate and move more slowly than an authoritative figure or body but the former groups are more akin to how the democratic process should play out. You see, disagreement, debate, compromise and consensus building are all critical to making democracy come alive and function in the institution of education.
A top-down, authoritarian model such as No Child Left Behind, Common Core State Standards and A Race to the Top dilute the democratic process so vital to the well being of education.
Think about this if you would. How on earth can we expect our students to learn and use the real merits of democracy if we don't model them? This isn't merely a rhetorical question. It deserves an answer.
Dick
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