LF: New PBS Documentary on Education in America is Creating a Stir

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: 4437
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."

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. (1 image)

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.

It's impossible to remove prayer from schools. No so long as the Principal has a paddle and the authority to use it.

A Win-Win Solution IV

By Greg Forster, Ph.D.

A vast body of research shows educational choice programs improve academic outcomes for students and schools, saves taxpayers money, reduces segregation in schools and improves students’ civic values. The fourth edition of A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on School Choice brings together 100 empirical studies on each of these essential questions in one comprehensive report.

What Will I Learn?

Download Report

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Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Part I: Academic Outcomes of Choice Participants
Part II: Academic Outcomes of Public Schools
Part III: Fiscal Impact on Taxpayers and Public Schools
Part IV: Racial Segregation in Schools
Part V: Civic Values and Practices
Conclusion: Remarks on School Choice

In this report, you will learn:

1

School choice improves academic outcomes for participants and public schools.

Understanding the academic outcomes of choice participants and nearby public school students is of paramount importance, and the evidence is overwhelmingly positive. Fourteen of 18 random assignment studies show choice participants’ proficiency scores improved as a result of using a private school voucher or scholarship. Two of those 18 studies show a no visible effect on student test scores. This report also discusses the negative results found in two new studies of the same Louisiana voucher program, including potential reasons for their anomalous findings. Also, 31 of 33 studies find the competitive effects driven by school choice programs led to improvement in public schools’ academic performance. In fact, more expansive school choice programs can be expected to lead to more positive changes for students and schools.
2

School choice programs move students from more racially segregated schools to more integrated schools.

Even as residential neighborhoods have become more racially integrated, schools have become more racially segregated. But the research shows school choice has the power to reverse this troubling trend. Eight of 10 empirical studies find educational choice programs move students from more segregated public schools to less segregated private schools. The other two studies find no visible effect. No studies have ever shown private school choice programs exacerbate segregation in schools. In fact, two recent studies of the Louisiana Scholarship Program find school choice programs help desegregate participating private schools and affected public schools.
3

School choice programs save taxpayers and school districts millions of dollars.

Opponents often argue that choice programs are expensive and drain resources from public schools. However, 25 of the 28 studies on the fiscal effects of school choice show such programs save taxpayers money—sometimes thousands of dollars per participating student. Three studies show the programs examined are revenue neutral, and none find school choice programs cost taxpayers additional money. Though savings vary from program to program, the research demonstrates that educational choice has the power to save millions, even billions, of dollars for taxpayers and school districts.
4

School choice programs improve tolerance and civic participation among students.

School choice can enhance knowledge and practice of civic values that make democratic society possible. Eight of 11 empirical studies show choice programs have a positive effect on students’ civic values and participation, and three studies show no impact. Civic values are measured in a variety of ways, from tolerance for the rights of others to voting. Studies also show students participating in educational choice programs are likely to volunteer more and give more to charity than their public school counterparts.

A Win-Win Solution IV

By Greg Forster, Ph.D.

Quick Bookmarks

In this report, you will learn:

School choice improves academic outcomes for participants and public schools.

School choice programs move students from more racially segregated schools to more integrated schools.

School choice programs save taxpayers and school districts millions of dollars.

School choice programs improve tolerance and civic participation among students.