There is a craziness in our system that is creating suffering in our schools. Crazy because it often doesn’t make sense, is not supported by what we see in front of our eyes, is basically, not humane. While I would argue that suffering for kids in schools is not new, the current assumptions are taking us deeper into a system of rote learning and control for kids particularly in lower income.
I have just started reading 50 Myths and Lies That Threaten America’s Public Schools by David C. Berliner and Gene V. Glass and Associates. This book should help me know what to say when I get a chance to explain what is going on in public education, the puppeteers and profit-makers behind the scenes, the false evidence justifying practices for kids in public schools–practices that are in fact proving not to be good for their development as measured by test scores or life.
This book provides a comprehensive list with clearly written calm summaries for anyone who wants to understand what is going on behind the current reforms and destruction of our public school system as well as the implications for what would be good for our kids and public education to which the strength and well being of our country is tied.
For those outside of education who realize we need all our citizens to see and support our public schools, the big story emerges from each section.
For those of us in education who want to be strengthen our capacity to communicate the situation in public education, we can draw on the information and the way it is presented, as a model for our own stories, articulation and speaking up with evidence behind our words.
The book sections include:
I. Myths, Hoaxes, and Outright Lies
II. Myths and Lies About Who’s Best: Charters, Privates, Maybe Finland?
III. Myths and Lies About Teachers and the Teaching Profession: Teachers Are “Everything,” That’s Why We Blame Them and Their Unions
IV. Myths and Lies About How to Make Our Nation’s Schools Better
V. Myths and Lies About How Our Nation’s Schools Are Paid For: All Schools Are Equal, but Some Are More Equal Than Others
VI. Myths and Lies About Making All Students Career and College Ready
From the publisher:
They [authors] explain how the mythical failure of public education has been created and perpetuated in large part by political and economic interests that stand to gain from its destruction. They also expose a rapidly expanding variety of organizations and media that intentionally misrepresent facts. Many of these organizations also suggest that their goal is unbiased service in the public interest when, in fact, they represent narrow political and financial interests. Where appropriate, the authors name the promoters of these deceptions and point out how they are served by encouraging false beliefs.
This book provides stories and facts behind what the reform agenda presents as truths — the truth is, it is not as they want it to appear. There is more going on behind the curtain…….