"student Achievement, Marketable Job Skills, and Global Competitiveness": America's unhealthy education priorities

Abstract

Over the last 20 years, American K-12 education has been profoundly transformed to reflect the values and principles of market-based thinking. This market-oriented transformation has profoundly narrowed the mission of American public education to be about boosting test scores ("student achievement") in hopes of developing marketable job skills to grow the economy and enhance America's economic competitiveness. This article analyzes why making student achievement, marketable job skills, and global competitiveness top priorities for public education is unhealthy for students, for local and national communities, and for protecting the health of the planet. Suggested alternative priorities for public education in the United States are discussed.