Myths of Educational Choice

(Hardback)

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This volume offers a comprehensive examination of the concerns about educational choice. Judy Pearson identifies errors, omissions and fallacies in the economic and political theories used to justify choice and raises questions about the potential impacts of choice on both urban and rural public schools and consumers. The range of potential consequences of choice have not been thoroughly examined before implementation - a serious problem because educational choice may undermine the basic principles of public education in a democratic society and increase existing inequities in educational opportunities for many students. The bandwagon for choice is already rolling at great speed, with such high-powered proponents as President George Bush and Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander. The book opens with a sceptical examination of the popular perception of a general crisis in education and the interpretation of test scores upon which this notion is based. Chapter 2 describes the implementation of educational choice in Minnesota and critically examines the thoroughness and objectivity of the programme monitoring and evaluation. Chapter 3 describes Minnesota's K-12 open enrolment programme and critically examines the three Working Papers that are the total of the state's programme evaluation. This chapter also explores abuses of the laissez-faire choice programme and the impacts of student and dollar transfers on local school districts. In chapters 4 and 5, the author investigates the popular concept that bureaucracy is the cause of problems in education and questions the appropriateness of applying a policy of deregulation to public education. Chapter 7 examines the existing inequities in educational funding and suggests that choice may make a bad situation much worse, particularly in urban schools. In Chapter 8, the author looks at the probable adverse ways in which abuses of the competitive market system could affect consumers of education. Chapter 9 addresses the obvious: Where there are winners in a competitive marketplace, there are also losers. Who are they, individually and collectively Also analysed are the impacts of choice on educators, school boards, administrators and teachers. Finally, Pearson challenges the constitutionality of choice through the probable inclusion of public funding for private schools.

Reviews

[This] book serves as a wake-up call and warning that choice itself may be a 'cop out, ' an avoidance of the larger problems of education. . . . Pearson's book should be read by those educational outsiders who champion choice: politicians, businesspeople, think-tankers, members of the media. For insiders, the book offers some reassurance and much hope.-Educational Leadership
Pearson's book should be read by those educational outsiders who champion choice: politicians, businesspeople, think-tankers, members of the media. For insiders, the book offers some reassurance and much hope.-Education Leadership
This volume provides an examination of the concerns about educational choice: the errors, omissions, and fallacies in the economic and political theories used to justify educational choice.-Administrative Structure and Process
"This book serves as a wake-up call and warning that choice itself may be a 'cop out, ' an avoidance of the larger problems of education. . . . Pearson's book should be read by those educational outsiders who champion choice: politicians, businesspeople, think-tankers, members of the media. For insiders, the book offers some reassurance and much hope."-Educational Leadership
"Pearson's book should be read by those educational outsiders who champion choice: politicians, businesspeople, think-tankers, members of the media. For insiders, the book offers some reassurance and much hope."-Education Leadership
"This volume provides an examination of the concerns about educational choice: the errors, omissions, and fallacies in the economic and political theories used to justify educational choice."-Administrative Structure and Process
"[This] book serves as a wake-up call and warning that choice itself may be a 'cop out, ' an avoidance of the larger problems of education. . . . Pearson's book should be read by those educational outsiders who champion choice: politicians, businesspeople, think-tankers, members of the media. For insiders, the book offers some reassurance and much hope."-Educational Leadership

Author Bio

JUDITH PEARSON has twenty-three years of experience as a public school educator in Minnesota, the first state to experiment with choice in education. She has a Specialists' Degree in School Administration and holds Minnesota licensure for Secondary Principal and Superintendent of Schools. She has taught for thirteen years in secondary social studies r service in administration includes seven years as Principal, two years as Superintendent of Schools, and three years as an elected school board director in a large rural Minnesota school district.