Rethinking 'public education'

Last month at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Inasmuch Foundation hosted a screening of The Lottery. After the film, I had the opportunity to be on a panel with Janet Barresi, Bill Price, and state Rep. Jabar Shumate. I pointed out that movies like this are causing people to rethink what is meant by "public education." Properly understood, "public education" is about producing an "educated public" -- whether that education takes place in traditional public schools, private schools, charter schools, home schools, or wherever.

Comes now a fascinating story in this weekend's Wall Street Journal. "The school board in a wealthy suburban county south of Denver is considering letting parents use public funds to send their children to private schools -- or take classes with private teachers -- in a bid to rethink public education," Stephanie Simon reports. "'These days, you can build a custom computer. You can get a custom latte at Starbucks,' said board member Meghann Silverthorn. 'Parents expect the same out of their educational system.'"

Are you listening, Edmond? Jenks?

There's no 'Superman' to save us

We can't afford to wait for Superman, State Chamber president Fred Morgan writes today in The Oklahoman.

The U.S. Chamber and The State Chamber have been working to shake up K-12 education so that every child is prepared for higher education or productive careers. We continue to advocate for common-sense reforms including greater accountability and innovation in schools, recognizing and rewarding effective teachers and principals who improve student achievement, and expanding educational options for all students. Our state's economic future depends on it.

Dick Morris: School choice can help plug budget holes

When I met author (and former Bill Clinton advisor) Dick Morris last month, he asked me, "Are you the reason God made Oklahoma?" So he had me from hello. But now I'm really starting to like the guy, because he says here that he believes school choice will become the dominant theme in education policy over the next 24 months. And he points out, as I have pointed out repeatedly, that school choice can save legislators money.

Superintendents in the chips

Here's a useful graphic (click to enlarge) from our friends at American Majority. To see what your local school officials earn, check with the Tulsa World or with the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

I realize one gets a pay bump for holding a doctoral degree. I just hope none of these doctorates are in Multicultural Holistic Constructivist Bulletin-Board Arrangement.

You're doin' fine, Oklahoma

Every bit as good as Bulgaria or Serbia!

Why is Bill Gates writing code for a pile of junk?

"Bill established himself early on as a pretty sharp computer programmer, and no doubt he still is," writes Andrew J. Coulson, a former Microsoft software engineer. "But there’s only so much you can do when the hardware you’re writing for is a pile of junk."

More good news for school-choice fans

Jim Williamson

Oklahoma's school-choice proponents, who already have reason for optimism, got more good news yesterday when Senate leader Brian Bingman announced that former state Sen. Jim Williamson will be joining his leadership staff as senior policy advisor and legal counsel. Among other things, Williamson is a knowledgeable and passionate supporter of school choice.

Schools in the slums

Marvin Olasky's latest column is excellent.

Ten years ago James Tooley, a professor of education with a doctorate and a World Bank grant to study private schools in a dozen developing countries, took the standard path toward helping the poor: He flew first class and stayed at 5-star hotels.

But something happened in India as he visited private schools and colleges that cater to the privileged. At night, lying on 500-thread-count Egyptian-cotton sheets, he meditated about the "con" that he was now part of: Wealthy Indians enjoy foreign aid because they live in a poor country, the poor fall further behind, and the researchers live richly.

Then Tooley broke the rules. With guilt feelings and some spare time, he actually went into the slums instead of riding past them with his driver. He was surprised to see little handwritten signs announcing the existence of private schools: He thought private schools are for the rich. Guided through alleys and up narrow, dark, dirty staircases, he entered classrooms and found dedicated teachers and students.

Tooley found schools that survive not with government money or international bequests, but through $2-per-month fees paid by rickshaw pullers who scrimp and save to give their children a chance not to pull rickshaws. He went on to visit 50 Indian private schools in poor areas over the next 10 days. Did some foundation make them possible? No, these were for-profit schools created by poor but persevering entrepreneurs. 

Read the whole thing.

Focus on results, not inputs

James S. Coleman’s Equality of Educational Opportunity, a massive study released four decades ago, has been "exhaustively analyzed and reanalyzed," Chester Finn writes.

But this key finding has never been successfully challenged: School inputs — money, teachers, teacher credentials, etc. — have little correlation with pupil achievement and differences in achievement cannot be significantly accounted for by differences in school resources.

More of the same from NAEP

"High school graduates are no better prepared today than they were in previous generations," Andrew J. Coulson writes, "despite the fact that we’re spending 3 times as much on their K-12 educations."

Perhaps government is not the best source of progress and innovation after all? Perhaps if we want to see progress and innovation in education we should allow it to participate in the free enterprise system that has been responsible for staggering productivity growth in every field not dominated by a government monopoly?

SoonerPoll: Districts should obey special-needs law

By a margin of better than 2 to 1, Oklahomans believe local school districts should enforce a state law granting scholarships to special-needs children.

Mom fights for special-needs daughter

A new Oklahoma law -- passed this year by a Republican legislature and signed by a Democratic governor -- provides scholarships for special-needs students. Incredibly, some local school districts have decided not to comply with the law. Enjoy:

Lawless bureaucrat snubs autistic boy

Owasso school superintendent Clark Ogilvie is a big believer in collecting 13 grand a month from taxpayers. He isn't a big believer in obeying state laws or talking to Channel 8.

If I didn't know better, I'd be tempted to say the bureaucrats just don't get it.