Mercedes Schneider, Louisiana teacher and Ph.D. In statistics, is writing a series of posts about the National Council on Teacher Quality. NCTQ rates education programs and presents itself as a neutral, nonpartisan judge of teacher quality. Here Schneider begins an analysis of the members of the NCTQ board. Schneider finds that it is committed to the tenets of corporate reform, that it has a specific point of view about the issues it reviews.
It never ceases to amaze me that politicians and business people can use the term “special interests” to describe teachers and unions, but are exempt from that label, when they themselves work for a company that profits from various “acts of reform”.
I’m reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s description of revolution in the stage play/movie “1776”. He said, “Revolution in the third person, such as their revolution, is always bad; but revolution in the first person, such as our revolution, is always good.” Sly fox that fellow!
So, teachers’ unions are special interests because they are the third person version. But companies that profit from education reform are not special interests because they are the first person version. Very subjective and self-serving; but also very effective.
Excellent points!