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Title: New PBS Documentary on Education in America is Creating a Stir
Source:
ITA
URL Source: http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/ ... ducation-america-creating-stir
Published: Jun 14, 2017
Author: Kerry McDonald
Post Date: 2017-06-14 18:47:57 by Anthem
Keywords: market schools, education, PBS
Views: 4806
Comments: 21
Why is it that innovation occurs frequently in other areas, but not in education? This spring, PBS has been airing a three-part documentary series, "School, Inc.", spotlighting some of the successes of education choice and free-market schooling options around the world. "School, Inc." is the brainchild of Andrew Coulson, an education policy researcher who left a successful career at Microsoft to answer a perplexing question: Why is it that innovation occurs frequently in other areas, but not in education? Entrenched in a static, factory model of education, American public schools haven't changed much since the Industrial Revolution. "School, Inc." explores the 19th century origins of mass schooling, noting how the Prussian system of compulsory schooling that was ultimately adopted in the U.S. squeezed out other popular forms of education, and prevented ongoing innovation. Some educationists are outraged that PBS accepted and aired this documentary. In a Washington Post article this week, public schooling advocate, Diane Ravitch, writes that she "was repelled by the partisan nature of the presentation, "and finds it "puzzling" that PBS would air this "lavish and one-sided production." They will learn about the “success” of the free market in schooling in Chile, Sweden, and New Orleans. They will hear about the miraculous charter schools across America, and how public school officials selfishly refuse to encourage the transfer of public funds to private institutions. They will see a glowing portrait of South Korea, where students compete to get the highest possible scores on a college entry test that will define the rest of their lives and where families gladly pay for after-school tutoring programs and online lessons to boost test scores. They will hear that the free market is more innovative than public schools. PBS had a more balanced response to Ravitch's criticism, stating in an email reply to the Post: "PBS and local member stations aim to offer programs that reflect diverse viewpoints and promote civic dialogue on important topics affecting local communities...In addition, PBS aims for a balance of viewpoints across the entire PBS schedule. Within this series, there are comparisons and criticisms of both public and private education models." By airing "School, Inc.," PBS demonstrates a praise-worthy commitment toward meaningful discourse on education policy and potential reforms. Rather than attacking media outlets for presenting diverse opinions on important public policy topics, we should applaud their efforts to facilitate open dialogue and share disparate views. Debate the message, but don't kill the messenger.
Ravitch concludes her scathing article by saying that the PBS documentary "is an advertisement for the demolition of public education and for an unregulated free market in education." 
Uninformed viewers who see this very slickly produced program will learn about the glories of unregulated schooling, for-profit schools, teachers selling their lessons to students on the Internet.
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 11.
#1. To: Anthem (#0)
(Edited)
How do you define innovation? The new "core curriculm". The dilution of course material so that everybody gets A's and graduates with honors for demonstrating ability to find the toilet? Innovation and diversity have too often been code words for dilution of competence.
What fucked up the schools was when little faggoty liberals took prayer out of school. Now you have atheists who are one hundred percent all morons running around telling us how smart they are. When in fact they are all fools and stupid people making decisions and fucking everything up.
I don't remember having been forced to pray in school 65 years ago.
I remember being told in free reading time that a Bible wasn't appropriate. That was my point. Did you have a point?
Not one that I'd care to make here.
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#3. To: rlk (#1)
#6. To: A K A Stone (#3)
What fucked up the schools was when little faggoty liberals took prayer out of school.
#8. To: rlk (#6)
#11. To: A K A Stone (#8)
I remember being told in free reading time that a Bible wasn't appropriate. That was my point. Did you have a point?
Replies to Comment # 11.
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