Should Public Schools Do More to Protect Themselves from Privatization?

Are public schools doing a good job of defending themselves during a time when critics are gaining momentum on voucher and charter-school efforts?

Not at all, said members of an ASCD annual conference panel presented by the Horace Mann League, a group that advocates for public education as one of the cornerstones of American democracy. "I think this is the biggest threat to education we've ever had," said Evelyn Blose-Holman, the superintendent of Bay Shore Schools in New York.

The panelists, all members of the group's board of directors, sought to discuss ways to protect schools from privatization and arm public education advocates with information to counter arguments for charters and vouchers. However, they also acknowledged that there needs to be tough discussions among educators about what public schools are doing right and wrong.

Gary Marx, president of the Center for Public Outreach, said educators must take the lead in the discussion, but they also need to listen to determine the areas in which public schools need to make improvements. "Today public education is too often illustrated by what we're against," he said.

James Harvey, the executive director of the National Superintendents Roundtable, offered three strategies for educators to respond to threats: do some hard thinking about the profession, effectively and proactively rebut lies about public schools, and develop a coherent political strategy.

He urged those in attendance to get involved in political campaigns and become proactive in sharing the positive aspects of public schools.

While some in the audience questioned how that was possible in a time when teachers are seen as having better pay and benefits than many of the parents of the children they teach, Harvey said surveys show that communities back public schools.

"No system is perfect, but public support is one of our greatest assets," he said.

Post submitted by SmartBrief education editor Amy Dominello.