Mercedes Schneider reviews the ruination of public education in Detroit while under the thumb of Betsy DeVos. She relies on an article that appeared in Truthout by Joseph Natoli.
Natoli wrote:
“Privatization of all things public has slammed Detroit as gentrifying investors seek to put price tags on what was previously public domain. In predatory fashion, privatizers are targeting the city’s struggling students as a new frontier for profit.
“How weak and vulnerable is public education in Detroit? The Nation’s Report Card, published by an independent federal commission, named Detroit Public Schools the country’s “lowest-performing urban school district” in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015. In 2011, a Republican state legislature and Republican Gov. Rick Snyder repealed a statewide cap on the number of Detroit charter schools. The floodgates were opened and privatizing predators rolled in.
“Bankruptcy following the collapse of the jobs that fueled the “Motor City” has exposed Detroit to the dynamics described by Naomi Klein in The Shock Doctrine. A crisis, either arranged or accidental, precipitates a rush to recuperation. Lobbyists of wealthy investors petition a government that wealthy investors have put in place. A much-quoted “checks and balances” security shield for democratic governance is thus so easily disarmed.
“The more startling, dire and urgent the crisis, the greater the rush to a “saving” privatization. Low reading and math scores, shared by both charter and public schools, do not as dramatically make the case that crisis exists, as does a more observable infrastructure rot and decay. When statistics do not show charter schools to be better spaces for learning than public schools, privatizers instead focus on appearances. In the case of Detroit public schools, appearance alone makes the case of crisis and failure in the eyes of parents. And, similarly, coats and ties or uniforms in classrooms shiny with new computers make the case for achievement and success.
“Still, the state of physical decay of Detroit schools is alarming: “Black mold in school buildings. Classroom heating systems that fail during frigid Michigan winters. Leaky roofs, warped floors, and collapsed ceilings,” enumerates MLive.com writer Eli Savit. The crisis has, of course, been financially engineered. The collapse of physical infrastructure in Michigan schools is funded solely through property taxes, thus less revenue is garnered in Detroit, where the average home is $40,000. Meanwhile, the average home in nearby Bloomfield Hills is worth 10 times that.
“Weakening Strategies
“Weakening public education to the point that privatization looks like rescue is accomplished by funding that is decreased when tax funds are siphoned off to for-profit charter schools. It is also inequitably allocated within the wide divide between poverty and wealth that exists in the US. When you allocate based on property ownership, you are at once solidifying the gap between rich and poor and, most grievously, extending that gap into the future.”
I put up th link to the Truthout article itself, and then added this comment, which has embedded links if you go to Oped. http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/The-Great-Unwinding-of-Pub-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Charter-Schools_Poverty_Public-Education_Public-Graft-161229-322.html#comment636829
Public schools are disappearing and with it the road to income equality as well as a democracy. Shared knowledge is a requirement for a democracy.
Look at who the legislatures give the task of informing our future citizens about history or science — Now, Billionaire Koch can write North Carolina’s social studies curricula.
Here is a link to the posts on charter school corruption at the Diane Ravitch site.
If you go TO DIANE’S SITE, YOU can read the plot to take over education WORLD-WIDE.
There is NO voice in America to equal that of Diane Ravitch.She has created the Network for Public Education(NPE) to counter the PACS that support the PRIVATIZATIONOF OUR SCHOOLS ,
She ‘stood-up’ to Bush when he launched his NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT which created the testing of schools so they could be declared failing and then replaced by charters.
Her site is a must GO-TO — if you wish to know how the legislatures are moving behind the scenes to hand over local control to the legislatures, with nary an educator on board.
This is the ploy and the plot… and now we have Betsy DeVos!
“Now, Billionaire Koch can write North Carolina’s social studies curricula.” Is that really true? God help us.
And if we stopped to look closely at much of the curricula already being forced into our nation’s poorest schools in the name of “reform,” many would be outraged at what has already been changed/deleted.
After the Nov 8 disaster I re-read Mary Wollstoncraft’s wonderful 1792 book A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Wollstoncraft, who actually taught school and was born exactly 200 years before the deplorable Betsy DeVos, recommended tax supported public schools for all boys and girls, rich and poor, to be educated together. She also recommended adequate time and space for recess, given the new info that US kids in more affluent public schools get more recess time than poorer kids. — Edd Doerr (arlinc.org)
Ironically, the radical French leaders of he revolution were not ready for women’s rights. Wollstonecraft was rejected by the likes of Rousseau.
The interweaving thread of government, Christian universities and K-12 education profit potential, for Wall Street and the tech industry, is an important topic for discussion. It is particularly critical, in the context of Constitutional provisions for the separation of church and state.
The president of a Christian university, who was recently installed, spent the prior year as an “educational consultant for the Gates Foundation” and, chairing an education alliance …for a Christian leadership conference …Prior to that, he was president of a university, which has, a motto about Christian leadership changing the world. (A controversial, prominent, evangelical pastor founded the university.) From Wikipedia, “…more than 150 of (the university’s) graduates had been hired by the federal government, during the George W. Bush presidency. As it was previously rare for alumni to go into government….”
Diverse viewpoints are valuable to note, in particular, if they suggest a trend, Christian university education faculty, may be adding recent post comments at the Ravitch blog. If it can be inferred that the comments defend profit-making plans by the tech industry, it suggests an important thread in the transmutation of public education.
Name names, Linda. Who are these folks of whom you write?
“Weakening Strategies.” Natoli’s few paragraphs are a clear and succinct statement of the problem “engineered” by privateers and of encroachment upon the public domain of those who care little or nothing for children’s education and, sometimes, the opposite. And we haven’t even gotten into curriculum or the school’s relationship to the community.
On Red herrings and the Betsy DeVos nomination ….
Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute (DeVos sits on the board) claims DeVos is no way responsible for the mess in Detroit because—
“DeVos has never been in charge of education in Michigan or in Detroit. She has never been governor, state superintendent, Detroit superintendent, state legislator, or what-have-you. Like other private citizens, advocates, and philanthropists, she has been actively involved in Michigan, Detroit, and elsewhere—but attributing school results to her (good or bad) is just truly weird. When is the last time a private citizen got credit or blame for the performance of schools in a city or a state? I’ve thought on it and, to the best of my recollection, the answer is: Never.”
Hess also shifts the discussion from K-12 public education to private collegiate education, where he seems to bemoan Obama call for some accountability. Hess does make his complaint explicit.
Hess, like Kellyanne Conway, loves to change the subject, then dismiss all criticisms as “red herrings.”
https://www.aei.org/publication/red-herrings-and-the-betsy-devos-nomination/
Laura H. Chapman:
Good catch.
Let’s turn this around a bit. Guess what rheephormistas of many political & philosophical tints, colors and hues will say when the ed credentials of Betsy DeVos are challenged? Hint: they’ll give her a major share of the credit for “turning things around” in a place like Detroit EVEN THOUGH she wasn’t “governor, state superintendent, Detroit superintendent, state legislator, or what-have-you.” You know, the old “in spite of not having formal authority she exercised her magic powers blahblahblah” argument.
😳
Yes indeedy, when it comes to ensuring the pipeline to the leading beneficiaries and enforcers and enablers of corporate education reform is full of $tudent $ucce$$, no feat of verbal & mental gymnastics is impossible given rheephorm’s undying adherence to DominioMarxism:
“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.”
¿😧?
Groucho, of course… What? Y’all had someone else in mind?
😏
Your turnaround makes perfect sense. I think it is also the intended message from Rick Hess.
Thanks Laura for this link. And, thanks Diane for publishing an alternate point of view.
I have been scratching my head over the opposition to the nomination of Ms. DeVos. It is perfectly fair and proper to oppose an individual based on their policies and statements. Fair game.
But, I find it hard to affix blame for the school situation in Detroit, on a private citizen. True, she has money, and true, she has been able to influence policy. But the “buck stops” with the politicians, who have the final say on policy.
DeVos owns the politicians.
If I may follow up on the remark by dianeravitch:
The actual heavyweights of corporate education reform have “improved” on the concept of “diffused responsibility” by simply “outsourcing responsibility” to those willing (eager!) to be bought out by them.
That way they “have their way” without having to “pay for having their way.”
A classic rheephorm twofer.
😎
cemab4y: doesn’t quit. S/he writes:” I have been scratching my head over the opposition to the nomination of Ms. DeVos. It is perfectly fair and proper to oppose an individual based on their policies and statements. Fair game. . . . But, I find it hard to affix blame for the school situation in Detroit, on a private citizen. True, she has money, and true, she has been able to influence policy. But the ‘buck stops’ with the politicians, who have the final say on policy.”
Now we are shifting the blame around and claiming that it’s the politicians’ fault and that Ms. Devos is merely a private citizen–perhaps, then, she should keep her money to herself and her private affairs?
Oh, and BTW, do you think that money might have something to do with the breach of responsibility (aka corruption) of politicians? Nah.
I feel that I am talking to my nine-year-old granddaughter. Only she’s better at it than you.
Catherine,
Cema4by is Charles. A guy who has read a lot of engineering manuals. Has no children but knows how everyone should educate their children. Free market.
Hello Diane: Thanks. Okay–“him”–to all of what I said.
On another issue entirely, I’ve run into “silo-heads” off and on all of my life.
CBK, my patience wears thin.
As always, follow the money, and the trail often leads to a biased billionaire. Let’s not forget Gates or Broad. They buy politicians. We call it cause and effect. $$$$=support for undemocratic programs.
Reading the comments, very interesting. Maybe Ms. DeVos has more influence in the state of Michigan, than I was aware of. One thing about private citizens, they cannot be voted out of office. If the citizens of Michigan are so displeased with their public education system, they should express their dissatisfaction to their elected representatives.
I am indeed, male, and I am an engineer. I do not have any special insight into how people should educate their children. Being a non-parent, does give me some objectivity in the matter.
I have lived in Saudi Arabia, in fact, I was a curriculum development specialist, at a vocational/technical school. If you wish to see my resume it is at
http://www.beyond.com/charlesmartin-va
cemaby4y writes: “Being a non-parent, does give me some objectivity in the matter.”
Are you kidding? Is that like flying a 747 without ever having seen one? Or doing science without ever entering a laboratory? Do you have an academic background in child development? Do you realize how silly that comment sounds to someone who is either an airline pilot or a parent? Do you think all parental experience with their children is “subjective” or worse, has no objective value?
Catherine,
There is a certain purity attached to knowing nothing at all.
Diane: “There is a certain purity attached to knowing nothing at all.”
Ha! So true. May I never bathe again.
Q Are you kidding? Is that like flying a 747 without ever having seen one? Or doing science without ever entering a laboratory? Do you have an academic background in child development? Do you realize how silly that comment sounds to someone who is either an airline pilot or a parent? Do you think all parental experience with their children is “subjective” or worse, has no objective value? END Q
Your analogy is imprecise. I do not have children. Since I have no “skin in the game”, I have no axe to grind either way. This gives me some objectivity. My desire to influence education policy, is not colored by my own parenting experience, and this can be an advantage. In this respect, I am a “disinterested party”.
I have worked in a vocational/technical school. I have some experience with education. My grandmother was a teacher, and my sister was a teacher. After I retire, I plan to teach at a public high school, if I can obtain the alternate certification.
I am a “stakeholder” in the public education where I live. I pay taxes to support education. I have as much input with the local school board and the state office of education, as if I had a dozen children. I am therefore, entitled to influence education policy.
I am an engineer. I know that an engineer can design an aircraft, and not be able to fly the plane.
The fact that I am non-parent, does not excuse me from my responsibilities as a citizen.
I can respect parents, of course. I do not have the experience of raising a child. Perhaps if I had children, I would feel differently about entrusting their future and their education, to government. I have had the experience of living in a communist dictatorship, and an Islamic kingdom. I am naturally, distrustful of government.
“Government is like fire, a dangerous servant, and a terrible master” George Washington
Cemab4y,
There is a difference between being disinterested and uninformed. I would not. Dream of telling engineers or doctors or lawyers how to organize their professions.
cemab4y–Your “skin in the game” is, as you suggest in your note, your responsibility as a citizen (as it is for all of us). But even though teachers without children of their own can teach well (I’ve see it many times over), having them helps us understand not only children, but other parents.
Then you say: “My desire to influence education policy, is not colored by my own parenting experience, and this can be an advantage. In this respect, I am a ‘disinterested party’.” I think you would be right about “coloring” in the negative sense if you taught YOUR OWN children in your own classroom.
However, such “color” (having children of one’s own) enhances a teacher’s objectivity with children per se (not their own)–as is any related experience–again, like flying a plane, or more than one plane, etc., adds to our wealth of experience that informs our objective judgments about flying planes.
Limping analogies aside, the inspiration of my earlier comments to you were born from reading the specific content of your specific notes. . . .
Q There is a difference between being disinterested and uninformed. I would not. Dream of telling engineers or doctors or lawyers how to organize their professions. END Q
I agree. A person can be informed, and approach a subject dispassionately. A person with no axe to grind, often can contribute.
You can choose not to tell doctors or engineers how to organize. You are well within your rights.
Nevertheless, when you have “skin in the game”, you will find it in your best interests to become involved.
Consider the upcoming proposal to repeal and replace Obamacare. Even though I am not a doctor, I am very interested in our national medical policy. What happens in congress next year, will affect you and your family. You may choose to become involved in this debate, or you may not.
If a power company wanted to build a nuclear reactor in your neighborhood, I suspect you would get involved, even though you are not a nuclear engineer.
ALL citizens have the right and responsibility to become involved in matters of public policy, including education.
“War is too important to be left to the generals,” Clemenceau famously said, and he acted on his theory: After becoming premier in 1917 at age seventy-six, he visited the front lines one day a week for the rest of the war.
I have a corollary. Education is too important to be left to the educators.
Cemab4y,
Educators welcome the support and engagement of parents and members of the community. What they don’t like is the mandates and dictates from legislators and politicians about how to do their jobs. They are right.
“When is the last time a private citizen got credit or blame for the performance of schools in a city or a state? I’ve thought on it and, to the best of my recollection, the answer is: Never.”
To the the best of MY recollection, the last private citizen to get one of those distinguished titles was Bill Gates. I also recall hearing something about David Coleman, but I suppose my memory could be a bit foggy.
BC writes: “When is the last time a private citizen got credit or blame for the performance of schools in a city or a state? I’ve thought on it and, to the best of my recollection, the answer is: Never.”
I suppose that the “she’s only a private citizen” argument will be the focus of the Congressional hearings for her appointment for the Secretary of the Department of Education? Too bad–she thought she was a shoe-in.
Uh-oh. I forgot about her money!
If she is a private citizen and “not responsible” for what happened in Michigan, than she has even fewer qualifications for Secretary.
Rick Hess, you can’t have it both ways.
And that is exactly why she is not qualified to be secretary of education or play any role in government.
Hess is co-author of the “Don’t Surrender the Academy” article, published in Philanthropy Roundtable (written with an external affairs manager of a Gates-funded organization), “…reformers…declare ‘We’ve got to blow up the ed schools.’ ” The title and the content imply the rich own U.S. universities and, want to blow them up. Or, as an alternative, they want the wealthy to influence them. (1) Is “cunning”, the right word for philanthro-barons who provide employment for university presidents, deans and faculty? (2) Is “hammer “, the right word for getting job placements, for former “philanthropy” employees, in the U.,S. Dept. of Ed.? (3) Is “tsunami of devastation”, the right phrase, for billions spent to rob America of its most important common good, which is the essential element in shared values?
I read yesterday that Trump plans to address “the education system” as one of 5 themes in a speech.
Get ready for a bunch of the same tired slogans we’ve heard for the last 20 years.
I feel as if any one of us could write this speech- take the words “failing”, “public”, “choice” and “status quo” and arrange them in any order. “Choice” should be used three times, because it’s super-duper awesome.
Presto! “Education policy”
Have any of you read the few public statements DeVos has made? It’s slogan-filled mush. Utterly meaningless. I find it amusing these folks have such standards for 3rd graders as far as “rigor”. This politically-crafted buzzwrod-spouting they do is really low level. They check off the ed reform litmus test boxes It’s the opposite of “rigor” or “critical thinking”. They’re chanting mantras in unison.
We’ll have to defend our local schools from the coming assault. God knows no one in DC is interested in the unfashionable public schools. No help there.
It’s perfectly valid to insist the public employees in Trump’s Department of Education work for public schools, you know. 90% of US kids attend public schools and they deserve representation in DC.
Many in the Trump Administration won’t know that since none of them use public schools or even know anyone personally who does, but that is in fact true. If DeVos wants to work exclusively for the 10% in the private and charter sector, she should not take a public sector job.
You have an absolute right to demand the public employees in the federal government do the job they are paid to do, regardless of their ideological objections or disinterest in public schools. Your schools and your kids are as valuable and worthwhile as the charter and private schools politicians and political operatives prefer. Don’t let them bully you into thinking any different.
This is a good piece on Mike Pence’s voucher program in Indiana:
http://www.journalgazette.net/food/the-dish/Indiana-s-vouchers-wow-GOP-16999984
There’s no mention of what ed reformers in Indiana did for the vast majority of children who attend Indiana public schools, but that’s standard in ed reform circles- they don’t value public schools so they usually omit our schools completely.
I don’t know where one would find out what Pence did for public schools. The 90% of kids who attend the disfavored public sector system aren’t important enough to mention.
Expect DC to go as ga-ga over vouchers as they went over charters. You literally can’t pay these people to work on public schools. Not interested.
I would just like to point out that Detroit schools were a mess before Proposal A and NCLB etc. Of course the reason is poverty and goes back a long way. Read Ta-Nahisi Coates’s article The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration in the Atlantic or Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow.
A recent shorter podcast to share:
Detroit students sue for better school conditions
Suing in federal court, under the provision that all students have a right to access basic literacy education
Also mentions Betsy DeVos.