I'm just throwing some concepts around here, but I wonder what childhood education would be like if it were truly run as a private industry - free from regulatory constraints and the influence of educational tradition, and solely geared to producing measurable results.
Let's say State Departments of Education decided to "contract out" education in the same way that they contract out other professional services, like, for example, engineering or architectural services. In most states, these procurements are not done on a competitive price basis, but rather, the bidding companies make presentations of their credentials and ideas, and the state chooses the firm that appears to offer the best services at a reasonable cost.
Contracts would be three or four year duration with options for additional years, and students' progress would be closely monitored. "Grades" (K-12) and "Grades" (A-F) would be entirely at the option of the Contractor, as long as the students are making progress toward "12th grade" competency. Training and credentials of teachers would pretty much be left up to the Contractors. Teaching certificates would not be required, and in fact, the schools would make use of part-time teachers extensively - engineers, accountants, college professors, and scientists - maybe even retired people - who want to teach a couple hours a week for modest compensation. (How many competent professionals would love to do some teaching, but don't even bother trying to get their credentials because of the wasted time and bullshit?)
School buildings with all utilities would be provided at State expense. Food services and janitorial, landscaping, student transportation, and so forth would also be contracted out, but separately.
The first thing to go would be the ridiculous 9-month schedule. There would probably be a couple of breaks each year of 2-3 weeks duration, but a 12 month schedule would be de riguer.
The daily schedule would also be subject to radical change. No competent contractor would rely on something as speculative as "homework" for any significant portion of the process. Writing, math, and other exercises would take place at the school during an extended workday, and probably be accomplished on computer monitors, with teachers observing remotely. "Home study" would also probably be replaced by something more interactive, so that students would have no real option but to do it. Parents and students would love the idea of "no homework," and parents would love the idea that their kids are in school until 5pm, but the kids would dislike the longer school days. Tough shit.
Discipline would farmed out to a quasi-military arm of the local constabulary, which would have a "soft" but permanent presence on campus, and be available on a moment's notice for significantly disruptive behavior.
Special Ed might be contracted separately, though with shared facilities.
School sports and "extracurricular activities" would be gone. School facilities might be made available after school hours for such foolishness (sponsored by neighborhood associations), but it would not be allowed to interfere with school activities.
Strikes and other disruptive union activity would be prohibited by law. Otherwise, hiring and firing of staff, and other HR stuff would be subject to the same laws as any other private company.
We have a couple of "basket-case" school districts in the Pittsburgh area that might be good proving grounds for such an approach to education. It would be difficult to imagine this program doing any worse, or being any more expensive, than what they have now.
Because of the nature of public education now, it would be necessary to make some accommodations during a transition period from public to private education. Current teachers would have to be offered jobs - at least temporarily - by the chosen contractor. The sports leagues would have to accept the concept of allowing "club" teams to compete against "school" teams for a while.
As tenuous as this sort of transition may sound, there are templates all over the place for transitioning government departments to private companies. Water and wastewater treatment departments have been fully privatized. Garbage collection, public parks, golf courses, and so on. It could be done.
And wouldn't it be fun to get in on the ground floor and try it.
Let's say State Departments of Education decided to "contract out" education in the same way that they contract out other professional services, like, for example, engineering or architectural services. In most states, these procurements are not done on a competitive price basis, but rather, the bidding companies make presentations of their credentials and ideas, and the state chooses the firm that appears to offer the best services at a reasonable cost.
Contracts would be three or four year duration with options for additional years, and students' progress would be closely monitored. "Grades" (K-12) and "Grades" (A-F) would be entirely at the option of the Contractor, as long as the students are making progress toward "12th grade" competency. Training and credentials of teachers would pretty much be left up to the Contractors. Teaching certificates would not be required, and in fact, the schools would make use of part-time teachers extensively - engineers, accountants, college professors, and scientists - maybe even retired people - who want to teach a couple hours a week for modest compensation. (How many competent professionals would love to do some teaching, but don't even bother trying to get their credentials because of the wasted time and bullshit?)
School buildings with all utilities would be provided at State expense. Food services and janitorial, landscaping, student transportation, and so forth would also be contracted out, but separately.
The first thing to go would be the ridiculous 9-month schedule. There would probably be a couple of breaks each year of 2-3 weeks duration, but a 12 month schedule would be de riguer.
The daily schedule would also be subject to radical change. No competent contractor would rely on something as speculative as "homework" for any significant portion of the process. Writing, math, and other exercises would take place at the school during an extended workday, and probably be accomplished on computer monitors, with teachers observing remotely. "Home study" would also probably be replaced by something more interactive, so that students would have no real option but to do it. Parents and students would love the idea of "no homework," and parents would love the idea that their kids are in school until 5pm, but the kids would dislike the longer school days. Tough shit.
Discipline would farmed out to a quasi-military arm of the local constabulary, which would have a "soft" but permanent presence on campus, and be available on a moment's notice for significantly disruptive behavior.
Special Ed might be contracted separately, though with shared facilities.
School sports and "extracurricular activities" would be gone. School facilities might be made available after school hours for such foolishness (sponsored by neighborhood associations), but it would not be allowed to interfere with school activities.
Strikes and other disruptive union activity would be prohibited by law. Otherwise, hiring and firing of staff, and other HR stuff would be subject to the same laws as any other private company.
We have a couple of "basket-case" school districts in the Pittsburgh area that might be good proving grounds for such an approach to education. It would be difficult to imagine this program doing any worse, or being any more expensive, than what they have now.
Because of the nature of public education now, it would be necessary to make some accommodations during a transition period from public to private education. Current teachers would have to be offered jobs - at least temporarily - by the chosen contractor. The sports leagues would have to accept the concept of allowing "club" teams to compete against "school" teams for a while.
As tenuous as this sort of transition may sound, there are templates all over the place for transitioning government departments to private companies. Water and wastewater treatment departments have been fully privatized. Garbage collection, public parks, golf courses, and so on. It could be done.
And wouldn't it be fun to get in on the ground floor and try it.
