Art, Public education (or lack therof) is a complex issue. I believe, the issues you highlight, are a symptom of a much larger problem. The root cause of the failure of public education is the system and structure upon which that system rests.
Currently, our government monopolistic school system is not aligned to the correct customer. That being the parents and children who utilize the service. In order to understand that though, we need to ask a simple question. Why? Why aren't the public schools aligned to the parents and students? After all, they attend class there everyday, they may even go to PTA meetings and put their concerns on the table. So why aren't schools aligned to their concerns? And why don't the principals and teachers believe the parents and students are the most important customer?
When you strip away the edges of an organization, there is a very simple rule which determines behavior of the people. "People do what they perceive they are being rewarded for doing". Behavior is a direct component of the reward system. The reward system which motivates employees may be internal (I like this culture and vision) or external (I like my paycheck, or my title). It can be as subtle as a pat on the back, or as clear as a bonus check for performance. But for the most part, people in an organization do what they are being rewarded for doing (or what they perceive is the reward).
Back to public education....Who rewards the principals and teachers in public education? I would submit to you the funding source is the primary reward mechanism. Where does the funding source come from? Well, it comes from politicians directly, and tax-payers indirectly. Therefore, the system is designed to respond to the needs of politicians directly and the parents indirectly (at best).
The people who rise to the top of a system such as that, are focused toward politicians. They're (mostly) people who aren't creative or responsive to the children or parents. But people who are politically connected and risk adverse. "Don't make waves is their rallying cry". Don't rock the boat, just get-along with our friends who provide us the funding. It's the main reason teachers, principals and administrators are so involved in politics. "Look at me, I'm really, really supportive of our politicians. Give me a raise, or give me a more important position within the organization".
So we must change the structure and alignment first in order to empower the parents and teachers to become the real customers.
Vouchers do that. Vouchers give the power back to the parents and students where it never should have left. They decide whether this or that school gets funding. They decide what should or shouldn't be taught. And they are empowered to decide what changes should be made, what principal should be fired, or which school is meeting their needs.
This simple axiom is the foundation upon which American capitalism has flourished. The customers better get their needs met or we go out of business. In the governments case, there is no cost for poor performance. Perform poorly or wonderfully and they get rewarded the same. Or, we could sometimes get rewarded more if we perform poorly. It all depends on our political connections, and how much we can influence our current politicians at the state capital.
The "system" is the root cause of the problem. George W Bush's plan attacks the problem of public education's failure at the root cause. And puts the power back in the hands of parents, where it should have always remained.
Michael
p.s. res-"First, our Constitution guarantees public education, free of charge.
Sorry, a free public education is no where to be found in the constitution Art. |
