What should one do when “the Great Hub Bub” seems so overwhelming and no one appears capable or willing to listen to those who yell “Stop! What are we doing! This makes no sense!”? The conundrum of public education in our times is summarized in two of my favorite quotations: “Everything is politics” (Thomas Mann) and “It was impossible to get a conversation going, everybody was talking too much” (Yogi Berra).
The “Great Hub Bub” occurs in this convergence of educational and political overtalk when the drowning conversation, the real talk, is all about political advantage. Do we really think that a public figure would embrace parental choice if large financial donations and a voting block of outspoken public advocates, aka voters, were not associated with parental choice? Look to the list of governors and legislators funded by Americans For Prosperity. The PAC power of AFP pre-determined the status of parental choice in Wisconsin; there really was not debate. Or, would an elected official oppose the research of solid field studies and glom onto catch phrases if there was not an advantage? How many elected officials denounce any attempt to reform the K-12 science standards because their political position is that humans are not responsible for global warming? These are examples of special interest in action. Everything is politics.
In this environment, try to have a real conversation at the state or federal level about K-12 education, but check your wrist watch to see how many seconds it takes for the other person to cite a partisan or PAC talking point. It won’t take sixty seconds.
Today’s mail brought an informational piece from our state legislator. He resigned his position as the Board President of a local school district to run for state office. His school district, along with all Wisconsin districts, experienced significant reductions in state financial support as part of a Republican Governor and Republican-controlled legislative efforts to balance the state budget by cutting educational funding at all levels. His Board publicly pointed to the loss of state funding as the need for several successive funding referenda for their district. Even with successful referenda that Board laid off teachers and cut programs. Our legislator, the former Board President, now tells us in his mailing that the Republican policies are good for Wisconsin and are causing good things for K-12 schools. It’s impossible to get into a conversation with a partisan politician about K-12 education, they are talking the party line too much.
And, the Hub Bub goes on and on.