Globalization comes home

by Larry Kuehn
Director of Research and Technology, BCTF

International students seen as a business

“They get to come to Canada and learn English, and they can perhaps earn a Dogwood Certificate, which is an internationally recognized commodity….They pump money into our system, which then goes to support our B.C. kids.”

Hon. C. Clark, Hansard, March 2003

International students

2000-01	2001-02	2002-03
2,957 students	4,050 students	5,602 students
$37.5 income $21.1 spent	$55.5 income $30.1 spent	$65.7 income (est)

The X-filing of the BC curriculum

“From the perspective of attracting tuition-paying ESL students to schools in British Columbia, the new graduation program can only lengthen their stay at school and make this option a less saleable item for districts to look at as a revenue producer.”

ESL PSA brief on the Grad Review

Network technologies

Student Keypals
“You are there”—classroom show from Indymedia in Miami at the demonstrations
Networking of opponents of corporate globalization—IDEA
But also individualize and privatize

What is “neo-liberal globalization”?

Ideology that the market rules
Less equity
Privatization—commodify so that everything can be in the market
Freedom for corporations from government—deregulation
Increased regulation of public services

Privatization of education in B.C.

Student fees
Fundraising and selling of junk food and pop
International students for profit
School district business companies
Online home schooling
Trade agreements—Phoenix University

Focus education on economic purposes

Planning 10 so that students will know about “pathways”
Reduced electives, with loss of arts, drama, music and others
Focus on individual choice rather than social choices

Control structures from corporate globalization

“Cult of efficiency”
Control through a loose/tight system—”steering at a distance”
Data-based decision-making—”If it can’t be counted, it can’t be managed”

Loose/tight control system

The “loose” is the appearance of local freedom to decide—SPCs, school plans, “notional budgets”
The “tight” is centrally set framework through accountability contracts
Fed by a technology-based data system (“student level data system”—2005)

Control structures as applied in BC education

Accountability contracts based on outcomes—not inputs or process
School planning councils—plans
Student testing—data for system
College standards for teachers

Attack labour and professional rights

Unions are considered to be impediments to the free market
Labour rights of workers are attacked and unions weakened
“Professionalism” is used a weapon to control teachers

Is neo-liberal globalization appearing in your district?

Corporate sponsors, pop and junk food?
International students for profit?
School District Business Company?
Overseas schools run for profit?
Online programs as a product for sale?
Control systems imported from business—loose/tight data driven?

Are these showing up in some way?

End of equity-directed social and educational programs?
Dominance of business interests over the social and cultural purposes of education?
Potential impact of trade agreements?

What is to be done?

Challenge the neo-liberal ideology that “the market rules.”
Promote the public good of public education.
Make equity and social justice valued objectives.
Challenge the control structures that simulate the market in the education system.
Develop a Charter that presents a democratic, participatory way of making decisions about public education.
Develop an appropriate accountability system.
Challenge the loss of conditions that are necessary for quality public education.
Work to regain and improve working and learning conditions—and support others working for the same end.

Jean Swanson’s criteria for evaluating success

The long haul—you made some improvement toward the long-term objective or blocked others from taking away something valued.
You brought more people on side.
You got your position on the record.

More information on globalization and education

Check out the BCTF website.