Helen F. Ladd of Duke University and Edward B. Fiske, former education editor of the Néw York Times, lambasted the Governor and Legislature of North Carolina for their calculated program to destroy public education in the state.
Only two years ago, Ladd and Fiske drafted a “vision statement” for the state board of education, describing how public education could better serve the children and the state.
But in the last year, Governor McCrory and the General Assembly have attacked the foundations of public education, underfunded the schools, and attacked the teaching profession.
They write:
“If one were to devise a strategy for destroying public education in North Carolina, it might look like this: Repeat over and over again that schools are failing and that the system needs to be replaced. Then make this a self-fulfilling prophecy by starving schools of funds, undermining teachers and badmouthing their profession, balkanizing the system to make coherent planning impossible, putting public funds in the hands of unaccountable private interests and abandoning any pretense that the goal is to prepare every child in our state to succeed in life.””
“We do not know what motives have driven McCrory and other Republican leaders to enact their education agenda. We do know that their actions look a lot like a systematic effort to destroy a public education system that took more than a century to build and that, once destroyed, could take decades to restore.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Sums it up nicely. I bet LadyLiberty will have something stupid to say.
your candor is making me laugh.
Thank you for that.
Or will Bruno consider their opinions elitist because they are from Duke and the New York Times (formerly)?
The elitist talk reminds me of when African Americans get mad at other African Americans for succeeding. . .or the other southern adage of rising above your station. That kind of talk is counterproductive, to me (but I guess I’m an elitist because I think that). ???
“If one were to devise a strategy for destroying public education in North Carolina, it might look like this: Repeat over and over again that schools are failing and that the system needs to be replaced. Then make this a self-fulfilling prophecy by starving schools of funds, undermining teachers and badmouthing their profession, balkanizing the system to make coherent planning impossible, putting public funds in the hands of unaccountable private interests and abandoning any pretense that the goal is to prepare every child in our state to succeed in life.”
Many of our Governors are following these same strategies. They either are innocent and completely ignorant or they are following ALEC directives on how to destroy public education and are getting political contributions for their destructive policies!
Sadly, this is a bi partisan affair. Democratic politicians are fully engaged. The only thing they haven’t signed unto yet are vouchers.
The politicians are playing on the resentment taxpayers have against public employees who have health benefits and defined pensions. 30 years ago these were typically part of every employee’s compensation. Today they are not… and many voters started working for companies that provided benefits and pensions and lost both when their jobs were eliminated or sent off shore. Now, instead of empathizing with the employees whose jobs are being cut and compensation being diminished, voters are agreeing with the slash and burn tactics that gutted the middle management and eliminated middle class wages in the private sector. Here is what is especially distressing: no one in Washington DC is calling out the governors who are engaging in this gutting of public education, the privatization of public sector jobs, or the sale of government assets to balance budgets.
yes they are.
Our economy is really what is behind all of this.
Great point, wgersen. I suppose we all feel a little resentment when we think others have it better than us. Let us not forget that “two month summer VACATION” as a perk. No matter that it is unpaid leave – it looks great. Perception, perception, perception.
Teachers may not get paid in the summer, but they are working preparing for the next year. They never complain, it’s just what they do. So those envious of a teachers’ 2 months off need to realize they are working for free those two months.
Some teach summer school. We had two teachers who worked summers in security at Disneyland because teachers were great at spotting trouble and crowd control.
North Carolina is a key Southern state. If NC fails, the others which have not already fallen, will topple like dominoes.
One might think that enlightened self interest would preclude such actions. Enlightened? Some people have dollar bills where their brains should be located. It seems scarcely credible that “adults” should be so myopic as to destroy the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Although I understand your sentiment, I take care to act like public schools are what built America. America, and the American dream, was built by providing middle class jobs – even to those who were under- or uneducated. People worked hard and earned a respectable wage. Labor was respected – labor union membership was sky high during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s only to be battered to oblivion in the 80’s and beyond where less than 10% of the private sector is unionized. My own father worked his butt of during the 70’s and 80’s while the UAW negotiated wages for a mostly uneducated workforce – my father finished high school and retired making more money than I make in three years time. My father’s job no longer exists, well in the U.S. anyways – it now resides in Mexico. Interestingly, Ford Motor Company is raking in the bucks with record profits.
Back on topic – although a good public education system is a key element in any strong democracy, jobs with respectable wages are more important in building a strong middle class that has been getting creamed since the 80’s thanks to Reagan and all those who followed. I would also add that strong police protection and fire services, alongside many strong, social safety nets for those who misstep, are important too, although probably not quite as important as public schools.
What we have is a situation where this country’s economic approach is to raid the middle class and siphon the money up through low taxation on the rich and the corporations they own. The highest tax bracket is effectively the lowest its ever been, save under Bush’s tax cuts (that Obama FINALLY allowed to expire) and capital gains is still taxed at a measly 15%. $$$$$ The rich have been able to export our middle class jobs or automate them, taking advantage of ‘free’ markets they fully control $$$$$
Without a strong middle class, public schools are broken. I would argue its the historically strong middle class in the U.S. that has helped build our successful public schools, not the other way around. The income/wealth of a parent is the number one predictor of student outcomes, and when everybody is poor, public schools will produce lackluster results.
We must fix our broken economic system and turn back to our roots – a strong mixed economy where the government holds assets, makes investments, and makes money to support public services and pay down debt. It would help if we quit spending trillions on wars too.
“It would help if we quit spending trillions on wars too.”
You can’t say we weren’t forwarned on the MIC.
@Duane – since 1961. I don’t think anybody listened.
It would be interesting if Blog provided link to their vision. I find it odd all the ‘wise folks’ on the left come out of the woodwork only when Republicans are in charge. Perhaps these sages with all the answer remain in hibernation until they hear to call.
For those who may be unaware, Barber of the NAACP had no problem with state govt., including poor education of minorities until Republicans gained leadership. You might notice Barber has been very quiet about Common Core despite conclusive evidence it is wrong for public education. ajbruno14 gmail
Poor education of minorities? NC’s NAEP scores are stellar compared to other southern states. Perhaps that’s why he and I have appeared “dormant”.
If the republicans could make a better argument to improve our economy other than free markets and cutting taxes, I would appreciate such an approach – heck even the democrats can’t do that.
Perhaps we need the Green Party to take over. Maybe implement an approach to that of the Nordic countries where people are the primary focus, NOT profits.
Its all about busing….bottom line from Barber…
Apparently you missed the Chicago Teachers Union strike. Or you’re not aware the Mayor Emanuel is a Democrat.
Please pay attention, aj. It’s really not a partisan thing, and very few on this blog make it so. Most of us are plenty willing to admit the Democrats are as bad as the Republicans, at least when it comes to education.
Also, plenty of people on this blog have presented their vision too. Please keep up.
Thanks Dienne – it seems as though we’ve had an influx of republicans on this blog crying their rhetoric far and wide without knowing much about current events.
They miss the fact that those following Diane’s blog are of the progressive bent, not necessarily being a democrat.
Bruno. . .
you are right about Dems needing to own up to the Common Core stuff. Absolutely I agree with you on that.
The answers do not exist in party lines. (I also don’t think they exist in ALEC agendas).
It’s hard to know, though, what your point is with all of this. People in parties are loyal to their parties (that’s why I’m not in one right now). I would love to hear some of the answers you would like to see instead of the constant defending Republicans. You are astute enough that I think you probably have some ideas. What are they?
Please get the word out about the protests in Raleigh: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2014/02/moral_march_on_raleigh_how_the_moral_mondays_movement_is_redefining_the.html
I taught for over a decade in NC, and I was proud to become my school’s teacher of the year toward the end of my time there. I eventually left teaching when I saw what was happening to the profession I loved. This was not a decision I made lightly, and I still suffer from massive guilt about leaving my students behind in a state where our legislature seems to care more for the bottom line than students’ collective well-being. Unfortunately, my new state is following NC’s lead, and although I am no longer in public education, I will always be inspired by the passion and dedication of my fellow teachers as they fight for their students.
What state are you in now?
I realize this was written to describe what has in N.C. But it is identical to what is happening in N.J.
Urban education is being strangled and public education has been sold to the highest bidder. This is a national crisis.
Gates/Pearson Axis has taken control of public education.
Wonder if Gates owns any Pearson stock? Anyone know?
I do know they have a partnership: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/education/28gates.html?_r=0
Just so you know, it isn’t true that Reverend Barber “never objected” to policy that harms public ed in NC “until Republicans took over”.
He actually started this work in 2006.
“It was in 2006 that Barber began implementing steps to form
people’s assemblies across the state. The Historic Thousands
on Jones Street (HKonJ) was the culmination of weeks of
communication and coordination with residents concerned about
legislative issues. Just as lawmakers convene to make
decisions on policies, the people’s assembly serves the same
purpose for ordinary citizens, and gives them an opportunity
to bring their concerns straight to legislators.”
http://peacemakeronline.com/news/2014/jan/07/2013-peacemaker-year-william-barber/
Rev. Barber has done so much for the people of North Carolina. His work and that of many others has brought national attention to many affronts happening here. May he continue his good work and providing hope to those of us who need it.
Sadly, the same comments could be made concerning New York State. The similarities between NY and the circumstances described in Ladd’s writing is haunting. The only hope in our state comes from the recently elected Mayor of NYC. Everyone else in a position of responsibility seems bent on destroying public education.
For thirty years 1975 – 2005—the years I was teaching—almost every time California’s lawmakers passed so-called legislation to improve education, I thought that they were out to eventually destroy public education. All the legislation did was make it more difficult to teach as responsibilities were added and methods to achieve them were limited or removed.
What the district’s administration often did was no better. It seemed as if the new responsibilities would never end while our ability to achieve them was hampered at every turn by the results of court cases or some new edict from the district’s school board..
From the Rheformish lexicon:
public-private partnership: the deal; more generally, any useful mechanism for subverting or circumventing democratic processes
The reason they want to destroy the educational is because Art Pope and his cronies are Ayn Rand Objectivist. This guy from the Ayn Rand Institute can explain why they want to destroy public education. http://arc-tv.com/the-separation-of-school-and-state/
Watch at 4:05 in the following interview with Ayn Rand where she, herself, admits that she is out to destroy majority rule and other key aspects of our democracy. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKd0ToQD00o) It seems as if NC GOP is out to destroy democracy too.
Reblogged this on Middletown Voice.