We live in a
"democratic society" that claims as its cornerstones the concepts of
liberty, freedom and equality. Our
national identity is based on the belief that anyone can rise to the top and
achieve greatness, no matter what their starting place. We have long put our nation's equity in
opportunity above those of other countries and have created a history that
touts our flexible, "classless" social structure. We are taught that America
was different from the "Old World"
system of rigid classes and a notable lack of opportunity. People came to our nation's shores to find
equality and opportunity that they couldn't find in their homelands. We want to believe this narrative and hold on
to the belief that the system of government that was installed in the late
1700's is one that provides all of us with the best chances to live in a
"perfect union" and to "secure the blessings of liberty"
for every citizen.
Yet, we also know that
this vision of justice, equity and opportunity is one that hasn't been enjoyed
by all members of our society. From its
very beginnings there were many people relegated to second (or even two-thirds)
class citizenship. Our history has been
one of constant struggle to bring the reality of our social, political and
economic landscape up to the standards set forth in our founding
documents. We have moved forward in
short bursts followed by longer periods of settling out and even regression as
different groups have struggled to make their case for a place in the existing
power structure.
All through this process
we see an effort made to overcome existing prejudices and to create new norms
that govern our society at all levels.
Those who struggle for social justice find themselves combating well
entrenched beliefs and a power structure that favors those who already have a
place at the table. The struggle for
social justice also faces challenges created by the link between political
and/or social power and the access that wealth gives to a small number of
citizens.
In short, we live in a
nation that strives for equity, but falls short of our goals due to a human
tendency to centralize power in the hands of the few. This leaves the majority of citizens in an
constant struggle to be heard, and to achieve success. The competition that exists helps drive the
engines of change, but those efforts for equity will always meet with staunch
resistance from those in power.
The effects of power on
individuals is well documented and warnings were being issued by many
contemporaries of our founders. The most
famous of these warnings is attributed to Lord Acton writing in 1887 when he
said, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts
absolutely." Yet, his words were
simply an extension of others' thinking.
People like William Pitt the Elder said in 1770, "Unlimited power
is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it." Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine
wrote, "It is not only the slave or serf who is ameliorated in becoming
free... the master himself did not gain less in every point of view,... for
absolute power corrupts the best natures."
It is also worthwhile to
mention the link that has been forged between wealth and power. While this connection has always existed in
every human society, the current economic and political climate in America has
magnified its impact. The stratification
of wealth in the hands of a small number of people and new rules around
campaign finance and other ways to manipulate political leaders have simply
codified what we already knew existed.
The wealthy have long had the ability to manipulate systems to benefit
themselves. In this way wealth and power
intersect, something that we have been warned about in such diverse sources as
the Bible ("For the love of money is the root of all evil" 1 Timothy
6:10) and Lady Chatterley's Lover ("Money poisons you when you've got it,
and starves you when you haven't).
It is also worthwhile to
note that here in America
we have a visible fear of political power, but that same fear doesn't translate
as clearly to the economic sphere.
Somehow, on a societal level, we equate political power with control and
want to resist it, while at the same time coveting and elevating economic
success. The argument that we need to
reduce government and reduce regulation while at the same time supporting our
"job creators" is one that resonates well in the political arena. Somehow it becomes fine to attack hard
working public sector employees, but not acceptable to attack hard working
business leaders.
Throughout history we have
recognized that we must have some sort of
power structures in place for any human society to function. At the same time, how this power is shared,
or not shared, matters greatly. The
social, political and economic goals of equity and opportunity that we claim
for American society rest on the concept that power must not become absolute
and that it is shared among the many.
The challenge has always been, how to accomplish this in the face of a
relentless pressure to control and consolidate power.
Many believe that
education is a key element in this process.
Thomas Jefferson wrote, "Educate and inform the whole mass of the
people. . .They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our
liberty." While we can certainly
debate what he meant by the "whole mass of the people" we can also
apply the values of 21st Century America and expand his personal
definition. Education becomes a powerful
force of change, hope and progress for all who have access to it.
Perhaps this is why the
current Conservative leadership in Wisconsin
and other places is targeting education, especially public education. Our public schools, while imperfect
institutions, provide the best opportunity to truly "educate and inform
the whole mass of the people." They
are accountable to all, and accessible to all.
The ideas and values expressed in our founding documents support the
belief that all citizens should have the opportunity to access all the tools
they need to achieve success and gain a place in the decision making processes
that guide our society.
In the area of public
education we see the different visions for our society collide. We've seen education used to expand the
opportunities for many citizens, and at the same time have seen education used
to control, indoctrinate and even eradicate different groups and cultural
identities. Just like any tool,
education can be used in a variety of ways both helpful and harmful. The way education is used and implemented in
our society varies based on who is guiding the processes around our schools and
other learning institutions. In places
with more democratic control the potential for good is often realized.
Unfortunately, we are
seeing a concerted effort being made to eliminate the voices of those who work
and learn in our public schools. Once
again, the power is being centralized and resources and decision making
processes are moving away from those directly working with students. On the Conservative side this means we are
seeing control over education being directed by financial means.
Area school districts receive around $10.5 million through a
funding stream Gov. Scott Walker has proposed to cut for 2015-16.
host.madison.com|By Molly Beck |
Wisconsin State Journal
Wisconsin would spend
significantly more on prisons and corrections than on helping students pursue
their educations at the University
of Wisconsin System,...
wisconsinbudgetproject.org
The national press has gained a sudden interest in the
potential presidential contender's lack of a college degree. I wonder why.
esquire.com
There are many reasons why
this is occurring, but the one of the most glaring is the profit potential that
our children and schools represent.
http://www.hastac.org/blogs/cathy-davidson/2014/07/19/can-there-be-educational-transformation-without-profiteering
http://k12edtalk.com/2013/11/educational-profiteering-as-educational-reform/
Democrats and other
supposed political supporters of public schools don't have a much better
current track record when it comes to helping all students and schools succeed.
The people who wrote and pushed Common Core on the nation
are making bank while the nation’s kids, teachers, and parents writhe in the
grip of their...
thefederalist.com
Educators and students are
speaking out with their voices, and sometimes their feet.
MADISON
— Several hundred University of Wisconsin-Madison students, faculty and
staffers braved subzero temperatures to protest Gov. Scott Walker's
postcrescent.com
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, she
got a job in her field on graduating with a degree in education. Now in her
fourth year on the job, she is a kindergarten teacher at Brighton
Elementary School, a small,
high-achieving school in western Kenosha
County. It is her first
year a…
kenoshanews.com
In my eyes the most
glaring problem that exists in our schools today is the fact that those who are
most impacted by policies and initiatives are the ones who have the least power
in deciding what direction our schools take.
The very people for which the system is supposed to function best are
the last ones asked and the first ones hurt by changes, cuts and reforms. Those who already have power and success
continue to enjoy the benefits of a system that works for them, and those on
the outside fall further behind. This
includes students, families and many employees in our public schools. The current efforts to reform our schools too
frequently benefit fewer students than they harm.
When the governor and legislators in Indiana talk corporate education reform
crazy talk, Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer knew how to respond during a rally at the
State House. She is a mom who knows how...
reclaimreform.com
We have turned a blind eye
to the excesses in power and wealth that have created an environment where our
students suffer the consequences. I'm
not talking about educator unions here either.
Unions have been vilified and painted as obstacles to reforms, but
really occupy a different role in our current debates around education. They provide avenues for educators to speak
up with less fear of reprisal from employers and administrators who are often
more connected with the power elite than they are the people they are hired to
support and guide. Many unions are now
cooperating with organizations and individuals in communities in ways that
other leaders can't or won't. It is
important that we recognize who our conflicts are with and don't allow
ourselves to be drawn into struggles with those who are in actuality our
allies. Our ability to define our goals,
and identify our allies is crucial in this struggle to help guide our nation on
the pathway that our founding documents and ideology set for us.
We teachers live in two worlds: One is of collaboration and
democracy. The other is of contest and domination. We do well in the first, but
not the second.
brettdickerson.net
The
Good, The Bad and
The
Ugly. . .
The Good . . . While no one wants our, or any other, economy to struggle, or for our
fellow citizens to suffer, the fact that many are seeing the negative aspects
of Conservative political and economic ideas may be helpful in correcting the
course our society is on in the long run.
Hundreds of people packed the steps on the Kanawha River
side of the state Capitol at noon on Monday to protest new legislation they
believe threatens...
wvgazette.com
Governor Walker's
presidential aspirations may also change his image in his home state as time
goes on.
February 15, 2015 by WCMC So ... Scott Walker is all but
officially running for president, and the country is getting a look at a man
who we residents of...
wcmcoop.com
Beyond its much-publicized assault on UW and its mission, Walker’s budget is
replete with less-obvious insults to moderation and fairness.
host.madison.com|By Paul Fanlund |
The Capital Times
The news that a fiscally
conservative, economic reform minded governor uses the same "tools"
that "tax and spend liberals" do should be headlines across our
state.
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) has 2016 presidential
ambitions, but he's facing budget problems in his home state. (AP Photo/Morry
Gash, File)...
washingtonpost.com
Since taking office in 2011, Walker has steered more than $2 billion in
tax cuts through the Republican-controlled legislature.
bloomberg.com
The Bad . . . We have a real problem with over-incarceration of citizens in the United States. While no one wants a "lawless"
society, we have become a leader in locking people up, and often locking them
away "for profit."
Correlation is not causation. This has recently become
something of an all-purpose comeback from people who want to sound smart
without really...
motherjones.com
The Ugly . . . We already have a very flawed and corrupted way of electing our
justices, now this! The courts have long
been a vehicle for social justice in our nation, but we are seeing the end of
that avenue at the state level here.
The Wisconsin state Senate has just paved the way for the
state Supreme Court to elect its own chief justice—and the conservatives’ pick
might shake up the...
thedailybeast.com
No one should be surprised
that this is being proposed. Act 10 was
the opening anti-union salvo that paved the way for right to work. Conservatives in Wisconsin won't stop until they have done
everything they can to destroy organized labor in the state.
In a surprise announcement, the Republican leader of the
state Senate says he will schedule a vote for next week on a
yet-to-be-introduced bill that would make...
channel3000.com|By Channel 3000
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