The Ideology of Education

Kevin B. Smith

Description

Advocates of market-based education reforms (including such policies as choice, charters, vouchers, and outright privatization) argue that they represent ready solutions to clearly defined problems. Critics of market models, on the other hand, argue that these reforms misperceive the purposes of public education and threaten its democratic ethos. This book explores both the promises and pitfalls of market forces—their potential to improve the quality of public education and their compatibility with its republican justifications. Smith argues that although market models of education are not without utilitarian merit, their potential to alter the social-democratic purposes of education is seriously underestimated. He supports this claim with a series of sophisticated analyses of the key assumptions underlying these models, and by examining the normative elements of theory and methodology that can—and often do—skew empirical policy analysis toward market preferences. He concludes that market reforms are not just a ready means to effectively address the problems of public schooling but rather represent a clear attempt to ideologically redefine its ends.

List of Tables and Figures

Preface

Acknowledgments

1. Ideology and Education

2. Education and the Economy

3. Education and Equality of Opportunity

4. Institutional Structure and Educational Goals

5. Education and Civic Culture

6. Education as Ideology

Notes

Methodological Appendix

References

Index

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791487327
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Ideology of Education

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The Ideology of Education

The Commonwealth, the Market, and America’s Schools

Kevin B. Smith

State University of NewYork Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2003 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Christine L. Hamel Marketing by Anne Valentine

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Smith, Kevin B., 1963– The ideology of education : the commonwealth, the market, and America’s schools / by Kevin B. Smith. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5645-5 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-5646-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Privatization in education—United States. 2. Education—Political aspects—United States. 3. Democracy—United States. I.Title.

LB2806.36 .S63 2003 379.1'11—dc21

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2002075761

For Catherine Susan Smith, who personifies all that a teacher should be. As long as individuals with her intelligence, professional dedication, and commitment to children are attracted to careers in public schools, public education remains something worth defending.

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List of Tables and Figures

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contents

Chapter One: Ideology and Education

Chapter Two: Education and the Economy

Chapter Three: Education and Equality of Opportunity

Chapter Four: Institutional Structure and Educational Goals

Chapter Five: Education and Civic Culture

Chapter Six: Education as Ideology

Notes

Methodological Appendix

References

Index

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ix

Estimated Institutional Impact on Adopting Religious/Moral Codes as Major Educational Objective

9

Marginal Effect of Institutions on Teaching Goals

Table 3.1

Figure 2.1 Actual Versus Predicted Productivity

SWAT Analysis of Equity

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Test Score Pass Rates In Texas School Districts

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7

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8

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Goals and School Type

SWAT Analysis of Test Score Pass Rates

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Figure 3.2 Actual Versus Predicted Equity

Table 4.2

Table 4.1

Table 4.3

Table 2.2

Table 2.1

Education and Productivity in the States

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SWAT Analysis of Education and Culture in High Productivity States

The Ideology of Education

Table 3.3

6

0

4

3

4

Table 3.2

Table 3.4

Figure 3.1 Actual Versus Predicted TAAS Pass Rates

List of Tables and Figures

Table 1.1

3

6

9

3

9

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0

7

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Equity in Educational Outcomes in Texas School Districts