Left Behind in the Race to the Top

Public education is suffering attacks that are well funded and extraordinarily complex andmultifaceted. These conditions make it difficult for educators and citizens to gather theinformation they need to mount meaningful resistance especially since mainstream media tendsto be uncritically supportive of neoliberal reforms. The Orwellian language of reforms isadopted and promoted through news outlets politicians and film; thus arguments against thesereforms must bubble up through social media and alternative outlets. By providing a coherentcomprehensive description of contemporary neoliberal initiatives and analyzing their effects onstudents teachers administrators and teacher education this book will allow educators parentsstudents and citizens to strengthen their resolve to save public education and potentially workto preserve the promise of democracy.This book examines and uncovers the effects of standardization and privatization on public education. Contributors consider the how ofstandardized curriculum and assessment coupled with philanthropic and corporate pressure have influenced the experiences ofstudents parents and teachers. Divided in sections entitled Testing Testing; Privatization and Militarization: Redefining Schools;Alienation: Displacing Students and Teachers; and Resistance: Opting Out and Hope for Change this text offers a combination ofinformation and inspiration for teachers teacher educators policymakers parents and anyone interested in understanding the currentstate of public education.