Surviving Capitalism (Not) : The Battle For Education in The 21st Century

We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The Battle For Education in The 21st Century

Click here to access the 20 minute audio recording from KPFA Berkeley CA, a listener sponsored radio station.

I have only rather superficially followed neoliberal efforts to modify public education and promote private education in the form of "charter schools" by supporting policies referred to in Newspeak as "No Child Left Behind". Common Core State Standards Initiative is the application of this policy in high schools across the country. My attention has been drawn to the issue because of local opposition (see this and this) and a growing oppositional movement nationally. Opponents argue that this "educational reform" movement is designed to better serve the needs of corporations rather than critical thinking citizens.

This program identifies its roots in leading neoliberal organizations of the 1980’s & 90’s, and articulates the dominant narratives about the failures of public education. Highlights major funders & promoters of corporatized education & how they profit.

Guests:

Diane Ravitch: New York University professor, educational researcher, historian. Former education official in the George H.W. Bush & Clinton administrations.

Kevin Kumashiro: Dean of USF School of Education, Former President of National Association for Multicultural Education, Founding Director for the Center for Anti-Oppressive Education.