Politicizing Education
How Political and Corporate Interests have Infiltrated School Curriculum
The 1980s marked the beginning of the era of modern conservatism, an era where the government sought a hands off policy towards the economy and greater control over people’s lives. This was nowhere more evident than in the world of schooling. It was a backlash against the exciting, exploratory and creative experiments in schooling of the 70s. Overall, the 1970s were a dynamic period in the world of education, characterized by significant reforms, advancements in educational theory and practice, and increasing attention to issues of equity and inclusion.
In addition internationally, the 1970s witnessed educational reforms in many countries aimed at expanding access to education and improving educational quality. Much of the change in education in this decade can be attributed to the Brazilian educator and philosopher, Paulo Freire. Freire is best known for his concept of critical pedagogy, which emphasizes the importance of dialogue, critical thinking, and social justice in education. He argued that traditional education often perpetuates oppressive power structures by promoting a "banking" model of education, where teachers deposit knowledge into passive students. Instead, Freire advocated for an approach that empowers learners to critically examine their own reality, identify sources of oppression, and work towards social change. His ideas were highly influential in shaping educational discourse and practice during the 1970s, offering a radical alternative to conventional approaches to education and inspiring efforts to promote social justice and liberation through education. In the US we saw this in the creation of magnet, pilot, community and other alternative schools where the context of the time allowed for experimentation and expansion. Students and their families were deeply involved in the running of their schools and the tension to achieve designated knowledge and pass tests was absent.
But this move towards a more creative and expressive society went against the interests of capitalism that sought workers that were subdued and compliant. And we cannot ignore the original intent of schooling. With the rise of industrialization in the early 19th century, there was a growing need for an educated workforce to meet the demands of emerging industries. Corporations and business leaders started to influence education policy to align curriculum with the skills required for industrial jobs. This period marked the beginning of a closer relationship between education and industry. So from the beginning education has always been about training docile workers.
Addressing the influence of corporate interests in education requires systemic changes that prioritize the interests of students, educators, and communities over profit motives. This will involve increased transparency, stronger regulatory measures, and greater support for public education funding. Traditionally teaching has been a largely female profession and the male corporate dominated society paved the way for excessive control of all schooling. This continues to this day. Teachers often feel disenfranchised or disempowered within the education system, making it difficult for them to resist corporate influences or advocate for alternative approaches. .This political control is not evident in other professions where leadership and oversight is left to those within the profession. This excessive influence and control by political and corporate leaders must be addressed by educational leaders and parents in order to pave the way to a school culture that values freedom of thought, critical thinking, innovation and collaboration.
