When you read about “neoliberalism,” do you clearly understand the term and what people mean when they talk about neoliberal education reform? It is confusing because “neoliberal” is used to describe policies we typically think of as politically conservative, while political liberals are the people we think of as supporting programs typified by Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. How is it that we call the people who support school privatization through vouchers and charter schools “neoliberals?”
For those of us who are not political theorists, Robert Kuttner simply and clearly defines “neoliberalism.” Kuttner is the co-founder and co-editor of The American Prospect and a professor at Brandeis University’s Heller School. Kuttner hardly touches on the specific area of neoliberalism as it applies to public education, but his precise definition is invaluable for clarifying our thinking. “It’s worth taking a moment to unpack the term ‘neoliberalism.’ The coinage can be confusing…
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