Greg Wyman looks at the eternal search for a quick, easy fix for anything that ails education. (Spoiler alert: there is no such thing).
The publication of A Nation at Risk ushered in what became known as the Excellence Reform Movement. The report fundamentally changed the national conversation about public education and helped establish standardized testing as a primary measure of success. For many policymakers, the path forward seemed straightforward: identify the problem, implement a reform, and watch student achievement rise.
At the same time educational reform became intertwined with broader political and economic movements. The rise of market-based approaches to K-12 public education, shifted the focus from a public institution serving the common good to a system increasingly influenced by competition and consumer choice.
This movement also coincided with growing economic inequality across the country. The consolidation of industries into fewer and larger corporations has concentrated wealth and influence in the hands of a relatively small number of individuals and organizations. The role of billionaire money in politics continues to influence public policy debates, including those surrounding K–12 education. The impact can be seen in discussions regarding school choice, privatization, accountability systems, and educational reform initiatives.
I point out this broader context because it provides the backdrop for much of the educational reform debate in America. With this backdrop, when I read stories and studies about educational reform efforts, I notice a recurring theme. There is always a promise that a particular program, technology, policy, or initiative will finally solve the challenges facing K-12 public education. Here in the West, we might call it the search for a “silver bullet.”
I am continually amazed by our willingness to embrace these solutions. What amazes me even more is what happens when they fail to deliver the promised results. We often respond by embracing the exact opposite approach. If the original “silver bullet” did not work, then surely eliminating it must be the answer. The result is what might be called a “reverse silver bullet.”