Another facet of this big business model could be in the educational materials industry. As a boon to the publishing industry, we could allow them to charge outrageous prices for textbooks; the authors of which would never see a dime of the profits—oh wait, they already do this one, but we can surely carry on the process.
If you are convinced that these are the schools that you want in the future, then support initiatives for for-profit schools (such as those of the Edison Project), charter schools, vouchers, public funding for private schools and the collapse of the socialist structure that is public education.
Note: I intend no offense to Mexico and Mexicans. I only use them as an example--many other countries would have served a similar purpose in the piece. My intent is to illustrate the flaws in the corporate model--in so doing, I think attention is also called to the plight of the Mexican worker (click here for more information).
Article comments
1 - Alison Philippe
It is not just K12 education that is affected by this trend to turn education into a business by governments. It permeates through to vocational education and training (VET) in such countries as Australia, UK, and Europe.
I enjoyed your article very much. In Australia business determines and writes training packages, via skills councils for their various industries. These training packages set the standard for what has to be delivered by trainers (paraprofessionals) and teachers (professionals).
A recent survey of employers in Australia revealed that they were still not satisfied with the VET system. According to the survey VET institutions are still not teaching enough practical skills.
It seems to escape them that there is theory (and knowledge) embedded in skills and it is the understanding of the theory and knowledge that allows learners or employees to adapt and transfer the skills learnt in one industry to new contexts and different industries.
There seems to be a general narrowing and dumbing down of vocational education and training which may, in the long run, prove detrimental to the individual, business, and the economy.
This idea that unregulated capitalism (in reality corporatism) is the solution to all things has been proved incorrect so many times that it is annoying that the myth still survives.