No sooner did I blog to question the reformers’ end game than NYC teacher Marc Epstein, who has a doctorate in history, wrote to remind me that he had already asked and answered that question a year ago on Huffington Post.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-epstein/the-education-reformers-e_b_840831.html
Marc has lived through the closure of Jamaica High School, the school where he taught social studies for many years. He has seen barely controlled chaos as small schools were opened to replace a comprehensive high school that was once one of the city’s best. but which was turned into a dumping ground by the Department of Education.
Is he right? Has anyone in the reform camp thought through what our schools will look like after teachers have lost tenure, are stripped of all job protections, have seen their pensions and health benefits cut? Have they thought about what kinds of teachers are eager to be evaluated based on the test scores of students? Or what public education will be after the widespread adoption of privately-managed charters and of vouchers for all? Can they point to a nation that is doing these things? Do they have any idea how their ideas will change the lives of real people?
Have they thought about the consequences for other people’s children? Or the consequences for our society?
Diane
Diane Ravitch's blog 
For poor children of color why spend unnecessary dollars? Provide the least expensive education .. the ” talented tenth” will figure it out, the remainder will provide the underclass services ..welcome to Tea Party America
I have not read Dr. Epstein’s dissertation, bit I imagine that they are not thinking past the quarterly statement. That is the business model. Maximize profit, minimize cost. Best way to do that is with as little regulation as possible.
“Do they have any idea how their ideas will change the lives of real people?
…Have they thought about the consequences for other people’s children? Or the consequences for our society?”
Ms Ravitch: A difficult truth about the financial elites who threaten our democracy–those who are behind these supposed educational reforms–is that they DON’T care. Not past the quarterly statement, as Richard says above. Not about anybody’s children. Not about societal change. They have no compassion. None. They are rushing headlong to their OWN demise; they don’t even have a plan for that.