I think the comparison you make between outsourcing the war in Iraq and intensified drive to privatize public education is on very much target. As Ravitch writes in her blog post, “…all democratic governance has been eliminated from public education in NYC…” Since I work in the NYC Public Schools and am a parent of three public school students, I can tell you this is not much of an exaggeration.

Decisions are announced via press release after months of rumor and speculation. Corporate consultants hold more sway than those of us who work in schools or are parents of students. The public has been shut out of public education. Not only are the lives of hundreds of thousands of children involved but many millions of dollars are up for grabs for organizations (both for-profit and not-for-profit).

I fear that we’re crossing a line here in which public education (and, therefore, public educators - teachers and administrators alike) is becoming demonized to such an extent that it will become accepted political practice to accept privatization as a necessary evil since “public education has failed”.

Normally, I’m not an adherent of conspiracy theories but there has been a carefully calculated campaign to discredit public education in order to create a “fait accompli” in which the only alternative will be seen as privatization.

NCLB (similar to the local reforms here in NYC) was originally presented in the same manner as the war on terror. “You’re either with us or your with the terrorists.” “You’re either for higher standards or the soft bigotry of low expectations.” And so it goes…

I don’t think so Doug - we are so very vulnerable in education to proposals that are all about promotion/ marketing and making a buck and moving on, and nothing about student learning outcomes.

enables investors to assess risk in a more informed, rational manner what an insightful/ insighful quote

Thanks for the new thinking Doug

Susan