Thursday, May 16, 2013

Common Core, Bill Gates, and Market-Rot

Shared with me on Facebook just a moment ago. This illustrates my suspicion of CCLS, and reluctance to accept statements of CCLS proponents at face value-even when those proponents are also supposed to represent the best interests of teachers. From the beginning, market worship has been the inspiration behind reform-not actual practitioner input and insight. Real teachers in real schools have seen the evidence of an eroding society suffering from market-rot in the condition of the children coming to school. Their economic condition, emotional condition, and moral condition. They know instinctively that the market cares only for itself, and we all hear it revealed in tidbits like "choice" and "competition".

Not "care".

Not "fair".

Never "whatever it takes to do the right thing".

Here is what was shared with me. I agree that common standards and goals would provide a useful continuity. But from step one, true practitioners have been ignored and false idols have been propped up and protected. We need to put an end to market rot and take those who promote it to task. We need to take our schools back. 





“When the tests are aligned to the common standards, the curriculum will line up as well – and that will unleash powerful market forces in the service of better teaching. For the first time, there will be a large base of customers eager to buy products that can help every kid learn and every teacher get better.” ~ BILL GATES

My italics

Is this an accurate quote? Did he really say this?

5 comments:

  1. Yes, he said it, or was scheduled to say it at the National Conference of State Legislatures in 2009. Here is Gates' prepared remarks for his speech, where you can find the original quotation: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/media-center/speeches/2009/07/bill-gates-national-conference-of-state-legislatures-ncsl

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  2. It appears so! Here's a link: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/media-center/speeches/2009/07/bill-gates-national-conference-of-state-legislatures-ncsl

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  3. I'd be interested to get verification on this quote, as well. Though, it wouldn't surprise me. I was talking to my wife about this last night.

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  4. Yes, Gates really said it and more, back in 2009. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/media-center/speeches/2009/07/bill-gates-national-conference-of-state-legislatures-ncsl

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  5. Oh, he said it.

    http://www.gatesfoundation.org/media-center/speeches/2009/07/bill-gates-national-conference-of-state-legislatures-ncsl

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