There was an interesting piece in Education Week yesterday offering a dissenting viewpoint on the nomination of Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education. I guess it’s becoming an old saw: those who believe in the free market as the solution to the challenges in public education, versus those who choose to approach change through a more traditional lens of teaching and learning. Nevertheless, the piece is worth the read, just to get a different opinion from the majority of what we’re hearing about Duncan.
There’s a piece in today’s New York Times about the decline of parochial schools in New York City.
This piece illustrates what I see as another part of the changing calculus that going to alter public schools in regions hard hit by the downturn to the economy. (I know, some call it a recession; some a near depression, let’s just call it a downturn for the moment.)
With parochial schools closing and fewer people able to afford private school tuition, the public schools will become the only option for any number of families who had turned away from the public schools.
The expectations of these families, as to subjects offered (hint, hint, arts education), the role of parents in the culture of the school, the facilities, will be different.
So, there’s a paradox: more parents used to a higher level of involvement as well as a more well rounded curriculum, will now have kids entering the public school system while the budgets are being cut. How will it play out? It’s hard to tell, but for me the important part is that it will change things for the public schools. For those seeking to support parents as advocates for arts education, it may be an important moment.
Here’s a final link for today: a Salon.com interview with Sandra Tsing Loh, who will give you a flavor of what might be in store for some of the public schools as the demographics shift.
It’s a must read!!! I
Who Will Save Public Schools, an interview with Sandra Tsing Loh
Read it!
