RE: [xmca] Centralized vs. Distributed decision-making in schools

[Peter Smagorinsky <smago@uga.edu>]

Sorry to say, decentralization in my view is better than the current system. Note that I'm not railing against Big Government, only against the DOE. Not that I expect my little op-ed to have great consequences in Washington.


-----Original Message-----
From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu [mailto:xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu] On Behalf Of Andy Blunden
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 10:05 AM
To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
Subject: Re: [xmca] Centralized vs. Distributed decision-making in schools

Wow! That article breathes fire! Great writing, Peter. Education Departments in my country as in others have been obliged to copy the US system! Presumably political leaders that only ever learnt when to put their hands up and how to tick boxes want a population trained in this way of life. But seriously, is decentralisation the way to go? Is idiotic education policies the result of "big government" or just bad government? Or is this just a polemical stance, like "show me a good reason for having an Education Department, then"?

Andy

Anthony Barra wrote:
> This dispatch on US education reform and the powers that be landed on 
> my Facebook page last night:  "Why the Ed Department should be 
> reconceived - or abolished" - by Peter Smagorinsky
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/why-the-ed-depar
> tment-should-be-reconceived--or-abolished/2012/03/09/gIQAHfdB5R_blog.h
> tml
>
> An educator on education policy, in the public sphere!  More of this please.
>
> One excerpt:
>
> "Instead of having a highly centralized administration powered by 
> money
>   
>> contributed by textbook publishers and other entrepreneurs cashing in 
>> on the lucrative enterprise of educational materials production, I 
>> would have a *highly distributed approach*** in which most 
>> decision-making is local and includes - and indeed, relies on - the perspective of teachers.
>>
>> Presently, there's little reason for practicing teachers 
>> to<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/five-ways-sc
>> hool-reform-is-hurting-teacher-quality/2012/03/08/gIQAHUMK3R_blog.htm
>> l>keep up with the latest ideas emerging from credible sources, or to 
>> engage in the process of producing those ideas and becoming credible 
>> sources themselves. The approach that I suggest would lend urgency to 
>> the need for teachers to be informed in order to make sound 
>> decisions. It would place a premium on being a reflective practitioner who is attentive to classroom processes and student learning, because such observations would become part of the broader school conversation about how to best educate the students who attend the school."
>>
>>     
> ***emphasis added* because I (as a citizen, not just educator) would 
> love to hear more about this especially.
>
> Anthony
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>   

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Andy Blunden*
Joint Editor MCA: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/hmca20/18/1
Home Page: http://home.mira.net/~andy/
Book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1608461459/

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