Viewpoints Vol. 6

From the Statehouse to the Classroom:
Governing America's Schools

Viewpoints (formerly the School Development Outreach Project) is a multimedia package on education governance designed to provide you with various perspectives, or viewpoints, from national, state, and local voices in education. In this package, you will notice two other changes. In the past, we have focused on emerging hot topics in education policy. In this edition of Viewpoints, we are examining a broader issue--the role of governance in education. Also, for the first time we are making Viewpoints available in CD format. This new feature allows you to easily revisit interview segments of interest. The accompanying booklet provides a general overview of this complex issue. We believe this multimedia package will serve as a valuable resource for you and your work.

The Issue

The role of politics in education is undeniable. In fact, it appears as though the influence of governing agents, from the White House to the local school board, is growing. During this time of increased calls for accountability and reform, we see a growing list of educational mandates being handed to local education entities--increased use of testing, teacher-proof curricula, legislation regarding who can and will teach our children. For many education leaders at the local district level, the increased demands and prescriptive measures are perceived as hindrances to their work of educating children. Historically, we have placed a high value on localism. Involvement from various political levels is often met with resistance, as was evidenced during the early 20th century when leaders tried to remove schools from politics. Education historian David Tyack (1990) calls these efforts "a foolish impossibility." Therefore, if politics is a necessary aspect of education--and the role of politics is certainly not diminishing--how can local leaders better understand and embrace the system in a manner that supports their work of educating children? This booklet and accompanying CDs examine the history, structure, and presence of governance and the politics that arise from governing a system for the common good, as well as thoughts on how local leaders can work within a political system.

The Booklet: A Guide to Contents

The essay "Is Politics in Education Here to Stay?" will provide you with an overview of the issue, a bit of history, and a look at governance structures. You will also find recommended strategies for superintendents--from superintendents--in dealing successfully with the politics of education. You may find it helpful to read the booklet as an introduction to the topic before listening to interviews presented on the CDs.

• Introduction
  Introduces the challenges of politics in education felt by local education leaders

• Defining "Politics"
  Outlines the definitions of "politics" as used in this document

• The History of Education Governance and Politics
  Provides a brief overview of education history over the past 200 years

• The Structure of Education Politics
  Offers an overview of powers that influence education at local, state, and federal levels

• What Effect Does Politics Really Have on Education?
  Examines the effects of politics on schooling

• Politics as a Lever
  Provides examples of how politics directly influences student learning

• Politics: Impediment to Education?
  Discusses whether politics can influence education

• Strategic Thinking for Local Leadership
  Suggests strategies for local superintendents

• Conclusion

Audio CDs: A Guide to Contents

The CDs provide you with various perspectives on the history, governance, and politics that influence education. Education historians, people active in local and state politics, and long-time observers of education governance share their experiences and insights.

CD 1- Interviews (in order of appearance)

1. David Tyack is a historian of education at Stanford University and author of The One Best System and coauthor of The Invisible Hand of Ideology: Perspectives from the History of School Governance, written for the National Commission on School Governance.

2. Thomas Timar teaches education policy and politics as the University of California at Riverside and is the author of the article "Do State Education Agencies Matter?" and the coauthor of the article "The Invisible Hand of Ideology."

3. Donald McAdams is a long-time member and two-time president of the Houston Independent School District and executive vice-president of the American Productivity & Quality Center. He teaches at the University of Houston and was a member of the National Commission on Governing America's Schools.

4. Fred Hess is the director of Urban School Policy at Northwestern University and a long-time observer of and participant in Chicago school reform.

5. Dan Weissman writes for Catalyst, a journal of Chicago school reform.

6. Martha Wise is a long-time member of the Ohio State Board of Education and its past president. She was the cochair of the Governor's Commission for Student Success.

7. Leah Vukmir is the president of PRESS (Parents Raising Educational Standards in Schools), a Wisconsin parent advocacy group.

CD 2- Interviews (in order of appearance)

1. Susan Tave Zelman is the state superintendent of education in Ohio.

2. Bill Marx is the chief fiscal analyst for the Minnesota House of Representatives.

3. Luther Olson is a member of the Wisconsin Assembly and chair of the education committee. He is a former school board member.

4. Art Rainwater is the superintendent of the Madison, Wisconsin, school district.

5. Todd Ziebarth is a policy analyst at the Education Commission of the States and has worked with the National Commission on School Governance.

6. Gene Neely is the president of the Kansas Education Association.

7. Donald McAdams (continued from CD 1)

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