[lbo-talk] Fighting NCLB, etc.

[Miles Jackson]

Max Sawicky wrote:
> There's a nice piece in this immortal tome by Rima Shore on how the
> education accountability movement (sic) came out of the defense
> industry in the 70s:
>
> http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/books_riskybizintro/
>
> Metrics of performance ("output") are intrinsic to privatization,
> since the case for an education market rests in part on the ability to
> measure output and pay for it, bit by bit.  The logic of performance
> measurement obviates the need for close public regulation, where
> "close" entails actual public production -- hiring teachers and
> running schools in this case.  (Also discussed in the book by yrs
> truly)  If you can measure you can contract out and economize on
> administrative costs.  In principle it's logical, IF you can measure.

Max,

I'm still not following.  I understand that corporations strive for 
efficiencies to maximize profit.  However, if we do things more 
efficiently in a public organization, it allows us to more prudently use 
public resources to contribute to the public good.  I don't see the 
problem here as "efficiency"; the problem here is dismantling public 
organizations and privatizing them.  Making public organizations more 
efficient does not help accomplish that right-wing political goal.  In 
fact, if we make public organizations more effective and efficient, we 
demonstrate the benefits of production for the public good, and we can 
undermine political efforts of those who want to privatize our public 
organizations.

What am I missing here?  Shouldn't quasi-socialist public organizations 
like community colleges effectively and efficiently use resources?

Miles