Members of Governor Rick Snyder’s administration have been meeting in secret since December with like-minded allies from far-right think tanks, hoping to develop a quasi-voucher in a state where the Constitution bans vouchers.
Thanks to publicity about the project, its future meetings will be held in public or at least have some public oversight.
Their goal, apparently, is to come up with a “value” school, with fewer teachers to save money. It will be the Michigan Model: Cheap education for the masses. Not better education, just cheap education.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Not everyone is satisfied with the increased transparency. At a State Board Forum last week, parents, school administrators and State Board members expressed anger at the deception and wrong-headedness of the Skunk Works team, whose work is being facilitated by dovetailed legislation. They hid behind the banner of “innovation.” http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/teacher_in_a_strange_land/2013/04/cage-busting_skunks_disrupting_the_status_quo.html
this was surreal to me; I hear you and believe you. During the recent election I saw an ad that was showing in Michigan; it showed a pregnant belly (not even a person) and it said “education is expensive”. I immediately called the governor’s office even though I don’t live in the state; a woman spoke with me for a few minutes and she was not dismissive. The next time I saw something like that I tried to call the MI governor but there was no telephone access (at least from out of state). I think it was at or about that time the woman Bloomberg appointed in NY schools told parents “haven’t you heard about birth control?” when they said class size was too large. Did these two incidents really happen or am I seeing and hallucinations? I agree with your expression that they would like to slash and cut; I also have felt this way for a few years about “war on the cheap.” When my niece said she was going to Afghanistan as a civilian employee I wanted to talk her out of it. My ex-marine nephew (age 60) told his son “if you sign up to go to Iraq/Afghanistan I’ll break both your legs.” To me, these policies are similarly disturbing. There has been an assault on what I value in education since the time I was told to remove all my books from the bookshelves in the office because “we are going to computers now” ; it was a time when we were told that we had to think like business men , not teachers. One of my colleagues could laugh about it and say “then we will have Kentucky Fried children.” But I couldn’t laugh. At the time it was Digital (DEC) and they “gave” us a computer thinking we would be their sales department extension and then I was told the information being sent out had to use marketing words and expressions. In 1992 I was able to free myself from this approach but I think it has become much more assaultive for persons who stayed in their positions. (After thinking this through I will re-read “The Citadel”))
I couldn’t find an email address anywhere on the blog, so I’m trying replying one of your post-sharing emails.
Let’s hope other school boards take similar action! * Bloomfield BOE wants assessments re-examined * http://www.northjersey.com/news/204865771_Bloomfield_BOE_wants_assessments_re-examined.html?mobile=1&ic=1
I live in Michigan, Ann Arbor. There is nothing of this in the newspapers, nothing in local TV, nothing in conversations with like minded people concerned with such matters in the more general sense, i.e., the democratic process in the nation has become engine that drives its predatory capitalism—–the matter of concern here is no different, simply one tentrll of the larger maneuvers by the Koch brothers and such, to continue the broader onslaught against what may left of social, economic, and political justice. And, even more sadly, in states where large segments of the population may soon loose now their vote, when they do vote, they do so contrary to their best interest. Put simply, the vast majority of the population has no orators, politicians, or other means etc. to awaken their imagination, and consciousness to see that this is going on at breakneck speed—the cocern here is one aspect, a very important aspect, but without an understanding to the bigger picture, change does not look promising. On the other hand, it may well be the place to start
Nathan–I hear what you’re saying: why isn’t this an outrage, known by everyone with an interest in public education and civic affairs? The answer is in the question: Who’s really interested in equitable education? Who pays attention to the political forces at work, once the beauty-contest election is over? And–how can we teach kids to be well-informed, active citizens when social studies is the most neglected subject in our public schools?
With that said–this story was broken by the Detroit News. Surprised? Me, too. It’s been all over MLive–easy to access. And was reported in depth in Eclectablog, which you MUST read, especially in you live in A2. http://www.eclectablog.com/
Above
If you think like an economist or businessperson, the logic works like this:
==> If I can get the same product (as measured by standardized tests) for a lower cost and employing fewer people, I’ve increased the productivity of a bureaucratic government monopoly and reduced my taxes. What’s not to like?
To counter this logic we need to attack the metric: standardized testing… because given the nature of standardized tests combined with the kind of by-the-book (or computer) instruction advocated by for-profit folks it is likely that scores will NOT decline but staffing and costs WILL. I believe we need to emphasize the message that standardized tests are an incomplete and ineffective measure of learning.
For anyone who ever doubted that the Church of the Invisible Hand is militating for a Defense Industry Model when it comes to educating the unwashed masses —
A Little Bit of History Regurgitated — ¤ URP ¤
Snyder’s Kickapoo Joy Juice — A School Voucher By Any Other Name
I live in Idaho. The legislature has had public hearings since 2011s introduction of Students Come First. Tom Luna is our Superintendent of Public Instruction. He was an advisor to U.S Secretary of Education Rod Paige from 2003-2005, the “magic bullet” from Houston that pushed high stakes testing, and worked on legislation to pass No Child Left Behind. Tom Luna has no education in instruction, but has an online degree in “weights and measures.” Idaho repealed the Students Come First laws this last November, after a long battle between the people, and a supposed “grassroots” organization called Education Voters of Idaho. The donors for the Students Come First campaign were revealed.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/oct/31/ny-mayor-among-secret-donors-idaho-school-campaign/
Unfortunately, the Idaho legislature reinstated parts of the Students Come First laws, against the people, often stacking the hearings with people who were for these laws, which include:
“Limit the life of salary and benefit portions of master agreements to one year. Require negotiations between teachers’ unions and school boards be held in public. Require teachers unions to prove – if asked by a board – that they represent a majority of educators. Provide money for grants for schools seeking to expand technology, such as laptops or mobile devices, in the classroom. Set aside merit pay funding for educators, based on district standards.” http://www.idahoednews.org/news/lawmakers-revive-elements-of-defeated-props
The reinstatement of some of the Students Come First laws have deflated teachers’ and parents’ hope for change. Governor Otter, formed an Education Task Force, stacked with his previous committee he formed back in 2007, called the Education Alliance of Idaho. This includes business stakeholders and JA & Kathryn Albertson’s Foundation, who also formed a committee called the Idaho Leads Project, and the new ad running “Don’t Fail Idaho.” Joe Scott, the grandson of Joe Albertson, of the Albertsons grocery chain, has been found to make millions off of the online schooling company K12 inc.
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2011/feb/19/albertsons-heir-made-millions-k12-inc-promotes-it-idaho-schools/
We have known ALEC members on ALECs education task force Senator Bob Nonini, and Representative Pete Nielsen, who are also on the Education Committee in Idaho.
My 7th grade twins that attend “traditional” public schools, hear me discuss Idaho’s education problems, and our nations. They had some interesting insight. They said it sounds very similar to the Roman Empire, and the corruption of the Senate. They said that the coliseum was built to distract the people from how horrible things truly were for the people. They said it did work for a while, and then the people began to revolt again. In Idaho’s situation, I feel these public hearings are the legislatures form of the coliseum. My only hope is to educate those that are unaware of the depths of our education deception, and eventually the people will win!!
Jen Leuck
Once again the “Orwellian Crooks” have stolen the phrase known for excellence and are using it for destruction. Gates is quoted saying “One teacher for one million students.” Yes, that can be done with the internet, but, no way does an internet teacher with one million students watching replace the one on one of the classroom qualified teacher. These people would never do this in their own personal or business lives. They will only do this to others for their personal financial and power gain. In the long run they are stupid as business wealth overall is dependent on disposable income. When you have an uneducated public disposable income is down and total profits go down in general. This is the mess we are in now basically at this point as a result of three of Bill Clintons signings and steroids by Obama now. In 1994 you had Clinton sign NAFTA and the WTO which wiped out jobs by outsourcing. Then the 1996 Telecommunications Act which wiped out the “Free Press.” Then the slam dunk with the 1999-2000 Banking Deregulation Acts which wiped out most of the wealth for all except those 1/10 of 1/10 of 1%, or the very top which is not 1%. 1% includes $300,000/year and that is not a “Player.” So Democrats get real we are being sold out by our own party for a “Few Dollars More.” Add Bush helping 9-11 and here we are losing our freedom and money in one clean stroke.
Get this….Gates is in one of Pearson’s text. Save us! Gates is no hero, not us he an educator. Insanity reigns.
Spin, Spin, Spin …
http://www.freep.com/article/20130428/OPINION05/304280058/Education-Eli-and-Edythe-Broad-Michigan-Education-Acheivement-Authority
I was just about to suggest that some people with facts at their fingertips might be able to supply a bit of alternative commentary on the above article, but now I see that the Detroit “Free” Press is deleting every alternative POV, no matter how civil.
Good grief. The populace needs to be informed of what’s going on. Even if it takes a massive effort of going out in neighborhoods and distributing flyers and telling people to inform others about what they learned, …do everything possible, because people need information about this before it’s too late.