History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
Youth Voice in School Finance
NEW REPORT: Los Angeles' road to A-G for all
Without Dollars and Sense Powerpoint
Past Educational Opportunity Reports
What’s missing in discussions of “children’s interests”?
- 08-26-2011
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Blog by David B. Cohen/InterACT
If you follow education policy debates in the media, you’re sure to hear certain phrases that catch on for a while because they provide a quick and convenient way to simplify and label people. “Defenders of the status quo” know all too well what I’m talking about. I once commented that if I were to refuse education “reformers” offering me gasoline to put out a fire, they’d call me a defender of the status quo. If you don’t want the change they’re selling, there’s only one possible explanation. Another simplification I hear and read often is that school reform must be carried out with the interests of children placed ahead of the interests of adults. Most recently, I found it (and commented on it) in a blog post by John Merrow. What a beautiful sentiment! You can’t argue against that, can you? Well… I’m going to. Though first, let’s stake out some common ground. (more...)
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