Corporate School Reform

What can Unit 4 learn from school districts in other states? Well, over the summer I came across a timely article by Lynnell Hancock, a professor at Columbia University (http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2007/06/schools-out-great-examination-of.html). 

In this article, the author argues against the "corporate-style" school overhaul taking place in New York City under the guise of civil rights/social justice. According to the author, Chancellor (similar to a superintendent) Klein's "path to racial equity employs the efficient tools of business--top-down decisions...Instruction is "data-driven".  Academic results are "granular". It is a technocratic vision of education, in sync with big-moneyed foundations, at odds with most classroom teachers and many parents. "

The article goes on to question Klein's resistance to "shared decision-making" and his ramping up of testing initiatives including periodic assessments, popular with buisiness models. The article concludes that  this kind of reform is basically un-democratic, especially when mayors of big cities (this has already happened in Chicago) takes over the public schools from independently elected school boards. The author quotes former NYC school board member Irving Hammer, Jr: "Public schools are the cornerstone of our democracy, if we let them quietly slip through the public's hands, we are breaking the covenant of civic participation in this country."

Just how appropriate are business models in education? Most folks would agree that it is desirable that the business community be involved in the local public schools, but is there a place where we should draw the line?  Are there areas of agreement between left and right-leaning constituents? (The article was printed in The Nation, a solidly left-leaning publication) hmmmm....