Corporate Elites and the Reform of Public Education

by Helen M. Gunter (Editor), David Hall (Editor)

Overview

Just what is the role and impact of corporate elites in contemporary reforms of public sector universities and schools? Providing fresh perspectives on matters of governance and vibrant case studies on the particular types of provision including curriculum, teaching and professional practices, Gunter, Hall and Apple bring together contributions from Argentina, Australia, England, Indonesia, Singapore and US to reveal how corporate elites are increasingly influencing public education policy, provision and service delivery locally, nationally and across the world. Leading scholars, including Patricia Burch, Tanya Fitzgerald, Ken Saltman, and John Smyth scrutinise the impact elites are having on opportunity, access and outcomes through political and professional networks and organisations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781447335184
Publisher:	Policy Press
Publication date:	03/08/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	312
File size:	798 KB

About the Author

Michael W. Apple is John Bascom Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His research focuses on power, knowledge, and education. Helen Gunter is Professor of Educational Policy in The Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, UK. Her research focuses on education policy and knowledge production. David Hall is Professor of Education Policy and Practice in The Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, UK. His research focuses on the working lives of educational professionals.

Table of Contents

Foreword Ramuald Normand v

Notes on contributors ix

Introduction: Scoping corporate elites and public education Helen M. Gunter Michael W. Apple David Hall 1

Part 1 Corporatised governance: system perspectives 17

1 Corporate elites and the student identity market Patricia Burch Andrew L. LaFave Jahni M.A. Smith 19

2 The corporate false promise of techno-utopia: the case of Amplify! Kenneth J. Saltman 33

3 Fighting for the local: Americans for Prosperity and the struggle for school boards Eleni Schirmer Michael W. Apple 47

4 Axis of advantage: elites in higher education Tanya Fitzgerald 61

5 Corporate elites and higher education reform: the corporatisation of academic life in Indonesia Nurdiana Gaus David Hall 75

6 Becoming a 'better' elite: the proliferation and discourses of educational travel programmes for elite youth Kristin Sinclair Katy Swalwell 89

7 Double standards: everyday corporate strategies at an elite school in Argentina Howard Prosser 105

8 (Re)producing elites: meritocracy, the state and the politics of the curriculum in Singapore Leonel Lim 119

Part 2 Corporatised governance: provision perspectives 133

9 Fast-track leadership development programmes: the new micro-philanthropy of future elites James R. Duggan 135

10 Corporate consultancy practices in education services in England Helen M. Gunter 147

11 The business of governorship: corporate elitism in public education Andrew Wilkins 161

12 The courtier's empire: a case study of providers and provision Steven J. Courtney 177

13 Political and corporate elites and localised educational policy-making: the case of Kingswood Academy Ruth McGinity 191

14 The usual suspects? Free schools in England and the influence of corporate elites Rob Higham 203

15 When students 'speak back': challenging elite approaches to teaching, learning and education policy John Smyth 219

Conclusion: The challenge of corporate elites and public education Helen M. Gunter Michael W. Apple David Hall 233

References 249

Index 287

Editorial Reviews

“Written by intellectual leaders in the sociology of education, this book reclaims the concept of the public in our educational system. A must-read for our confusing and risky times.

Carlos Alberto Torres