August 22, 2006

Re: Educational Assumptions

Justin Katz

Interesting point, Andrew:

Starting Line eschews any serious discussion of education reforms -- like public school choice or charter schools -- that could be implemented in relatively short order in favor of advocating for large-scale social spending in non-educational areas, in a rejection of the idea that education reform should focus on education.

The trap in such arguments (theirs, not yours) is that downplaying the ability of education to improve children's lives lessens the justification for spending so much on teachers. The cold strategist in me can't help but wonder whether there's an opportunity to divide and conquer, here. (Of course, in discussion with the general public, one must first persuade that we can't just keep pouring money into both.)