Kohn, Alfie & Shannon, Patrick, eds. (2002)
Education, Inc: Turning Learning into a Business. Revised edition.
Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
Not convinced that corporate America has an influence on American education? Then you need to read Education, Inc.: Turning Learning into a Business, where the depth and breadth of corporate infiltration into the America learning process is clearly outlined. Editors Alfie Kohn, former teacher and current educational advocate, and Patrick Shannon, Professor of Education at Penn State University, make no apologies for their straight talk, "this book makes no pretense of offering a 'balanced' treatment of its subject" (p. 9).
At the heart of this small volume of essays, is the belief that education is more than turning out good employees who make the mark and thus increase the Gross National Product. Education, as defined here, strengthens democracy, promotes social justice and fosters the well being and development of students (p. 7).
According to these authors, there are three primary ways big business extends its reach into education. The first involves commercialism in the schools. Along with learning the three "Rs", student’s attention is being sought through corporate sponsorship of not only projects and programs, but also curriculum. Pop machines in the hallways and advertising on Channel One are just a few examples of commercialism in American education as noted in the essays.
In section two, the essays examine how our schools now follow a market approach to learning where the bottom line is standardized test scores, which dominates the daily learning process. Even the vocabulary of our schools now follows the business approach, contends Kohn in his essay, "Student’s Don’t Work—They Learn". The other five essays explore how the need for money gives corporate America sway over what is taught and how it is taught. This section also discusses how educational products, textbooks, for example, are governed by corporate causes.
Among the most controversial of the school reform efforts of the last few decades, privatization of schools is the focus of section three, where five essays investigate the impact of allowing corporations to take over the educational system. The implications of school choice and voucher system and the ramifications of for-profit schools are examined here, including a case study essay on school choice in Colorado that questions the achievements lauded by school choice advocates.
Education, Inc. isn’t passive reading. The authors cut straight to the issues, ruffle many feathers and question common practices in educational institutions aimed at making students and schools more business like. This book is recommended reading for everyone interested in the American educational system. Most essays include a reference list and there is a helpful index.
Pages: 179
Price: $19.00
ISBN: 0-325-00489-7
Reviewed by: Stephanie D. Davis, Spring Arbor University
