Bill Phillis is a tireless crusader for public schools in Ohio.
He writes:
“U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ troubling remarks at Jeb Bush’s November 30 National Summit on Education Reform”
“Not a word praising the great American public school system which still educates 90% of America’s children. Not a word about the low performance and corruption in the charter industry.
“The take away of her remarks is students before systems. These are code words for privatizing public school districts.
“The clever little talking point-students before systems-assumes the “system” is inferior and broken. It suggests the “system” harms students and the lack of a system inherently benefits students. In general, choice alternatives to the public “system” are inferior, and often corrupt.
“Suppose the Ohio Department of Highways would farm out part of its funds and operation to individuals and private groups. This would put private citizens before the “system.” Transportation voucher holders could build a road in front of their respective properties. The transportation charter groups could build roads connecting their properties. Although this arrangement would be disastrous, privatizers could use the argument that it puts individuals before the system.
“Privatization of public services diminishes the function and efficacy of “community” at the local, state and national levels. It disrupts the balance between individual benefits and the public good. Billionaires like Betsy DeVos may not understand the need for community building and maintenance.”
William L. Phillis | Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding | 614.228.6540 | ohioeanda@sbcglobal.net|
Ohio E & A, 100 S. 3rd Street, Columbus, OH 43215
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Diane Ravitch's blog 
John Patrick summarizes it this way: “In every democracy of our world, there is some degree of tension—in some countries higher and in others lower—between the perceived rights and interests of individuals and the communitarian idea of a common good. In the second volume of Democracy in America, published in 1840, the French political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville wrote about the necessity for citizens to blend personal and public interests in order to achieve and maintain the common good.
Tocqueville referred to this kind of citizenship as ‘‘self nterest rightly understood’’ because, through some reasonable voluntary contributions of time, effort, and money to the civil society and government, citizens cooperated to maintain the conditions of public safety, order, and stability needed to successfully pursue their personal interests and liberty. They recognized that their personal fulfillment could not be attained unless the general welfare of their community was strong. Tocqueville wrote, ‘‘The principle of self-interest rightly understood is not a lofty one, but it is clear and sure. . . . Each American knows when to sacrifice some of his private interests to save the rest.’’ Understanding Democracy by John Patrick. (Annenberg)
but of course Margaret Thatcher said there is no such thing as community — so that is the philosophy we are presumably living under
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This observant Frenchman was speaking before the day when we would really consider the notion of self-sacrifice form common good. Tocqueville would have no doubt recoiled at the thought of giving up European sovereignty in order to preserve African Rights.
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“In a speech at the Virginia Convention to ratify the U.S.Constitution, Madison asked: ‘Is there no virtue among us? If there be not . . . no theoretical checks, no form of government can render us secure. To suppose that any form of government will secure liberty or happiness without any virtue in the people is a chimerical [unrealistic] idea.’
If most people learn ‘‘habits of the heart’’ or civic virtues compatible with constitutionalism then there will be good constitutional government in a democracy. If not, however, even the most adroitly designed constitution, institutions of government, and statutes will fail to yield the desired results of liberty, order, and equal justice under law. Democracy is not a self-sufficient system of government. It is a way of political and civic life that can thrive only among people with sufficient virtue to nurture and sustain it.”
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People of good will have encouraged the public education systems in their various states to grow and develop.
“There are a variety of issues ….such as academic performance, accountability, transparency, fiscal fraud, nepotism, etc. An issue that looms large is who controls the tax money?
The public controls school district funds. In voucher plans and charterland the funds are controlled privately. The public has no input on anything voucher or charter except that the public provides the money. Is this arrangement cutting edge public policy or insanity?” (Bill Phillis)
I prefer John Patrick and Bill Phillis’ and their definitions of “good will” and “virtue”. in my daily work and profession .. but no thanks to your interpretations Mr. Turpentine as you always will enter in that measure of insanity foreign to American values.
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From the moment DeVos started at her hearings with “I don’t see systems; I see individuals,” I knew we were dealing with another iron headed ideologue. I suppose we should take solace in the fact that she didn’t start with hackneyed,”America education is failing.” Maybe the “failing” lie would actually be more interesting in that it connotes some idea of making improvement. DeVos’ whole argument that choice is superior just because it is choice makes no logical sense, but then most policies from this administration defy logic.
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DeVos doesn’t understand anything but scamming and ripping the public funds off. She should be arrested for making money off her job, which is against the law for government people to do. Her family owns charter school systems, WTF are the feds waiting for?
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DeVos needs to go back to school, and not a private school. I don’t understand people who diss public schools and public school teachers.
I love public schools and public school teachers. Those who haven’t experienced attending a public school, public school teachers, state colleges and universities and the professors who teach at these great places of higher education have missed out or are missing out on a tremendous experience and a delightful banquet.
I even loved those huge lecture halls where I was just a number. There was solace in being a number. The professors who taught these courses were/are outstanding, too. I looked forward to each and every class and felt the professors were speaking just to me, even though I always sat in the back right close to the exit of those mega lecture halls. I even had a two courses scheduled at the movie theater down the street.
DeVos has no business being Secretary of Education. I’d like to stuff a sock in her mouth.
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I’ll supply the sock. To where should I send it?
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Way too tame
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To the Dept. of Education. Maybe all of us need to send our old, dirty socks to DeVoodoo.
Good one, Duane.
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