Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers wrote some insightful comments in her recent Wall Street Journal Op/Ed piece. (link below for article). She cites comments from political, educational and business leaders representing various countries at an education conference in NYC. The message from these 15+ countries was geared to just how they had been able to improve their overall educational systems, better teacher quality and compete in the global marketplace.
An important point made by all was that the private sector driven ideas and policies of the educational reform leadership in the US have little in common with the educational policies in their own national success stories. It has also become clearer to most sincere observers that there has been no true evidence in recent years to show that market-based reforms have significantly improved schools and/or enhanced student learning gains.
The reform movement in the US seems to be coming headlong like a steamroller, disparaging any successes public schools have made. They have insulted teachers and unions while promising just about the kitchen sink to families without any real data to show just how the can deliver what is best for the kids.
For years we have been told that the US is lagging behind the leading nations of the world in so many fields. Well lets see if we are smart enough to see what these countries are REALLY doing, adapt it to our own needs and reap the benefits. It seems to me to be a wiser and more successful long term plan than simply to divide up the educational money pie between corporate big wigs who really are no more than wolves in sheep’s clothing.
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