Who will defend public education?
Decades ago economist Milton Friedman openly advocated the systematic destruction of public education.
Today, use of the word "reform" has become the easiest way to hide agendas that have little to do with improving public education and everything to do with undermining public education on the road to increasing privatization by placing public money under private control.
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has become a red flag because it covers up what is sometimes an ideologically driven effort to weaken public support of public education.
The new book "The Death and Life of the Great American School System - How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education" by education historian Diane Ravitch attempts to explain that a train going in the wrong direction on the wrong track is not a good thing and great damage will be done.
I share this concern. Count me as a public school advocate and supporter.
I believe in democracy and the crucial role education plays in maintaining it. The worst lesson we could possibly teach our students is to embrace dictatorial methods as an educational model and solution within a democratic society.
I support public school education for all citizens who take advantage of it - the good, the bad and the ugly. I support public democracy. I support public control of public education. I support human freedom that recognizes no limit on human possibility.
Dictator education - mean-spirited education - test and punish education - corporate education - money driven education - is a threat to it all public education.
