The article, Lloyd Blankfien Education Expert? NBC News Thinks the Goldman Sachs CEO is One, by J. Max Robins, sheds some light on the motives behind NBC News series "Education Nation". Robins discusses whether if NBC News series "Education Nation" is more of a marketing ploy or an education reform. Mr. Robins finds that "Education Nation" happens to be completely biased and run by people who are more interested in making a quick dollar, than investing in the future of education.
As a student, growing up in a working class family, "Education Nation," could be financially impractical. Stated in the article, "The takeaway is that NBC News is being used as a stalking horse for the privatization and monetization of education,” says Andrew Tyndall." If education became "privatized", the unintentional, yet highly probable reality, could cripple struggling families. The whole point of a public education is to provide all students with a quality education regardless of their financial status; however, those with money to spare do not think to consider the families that are not as well off as themselves.
This new "education" campaign, an elaborate ploy, happens to be as transparent as still water. With objectives clearly outlined by the article, "NBC Nightly News" may have done more education segments than its competitors, however the focus of its coverage, ... was dominated by stories on charter schools and federal legislation..." By using NBC as the "stalking horse" of the Education Nation, the "bigwigs" of the movement have the peoples attention, but Americans are not naive enough to ignore the consequences of such a ridiculous piece of legislation. The "Education Nation" will only be helpful to a very small portion of the "real" nation. What will be left for the future, if only a tenth of the nation is able to afford and education under the so called "Education Nation"?
In spite of the exhaustive advertising efforts of NBC, America for the most part knows the value of public education. The article relieved, "In the main, this was an initiative dominated by "CEOs and anti-public education governors" who are big on discriminatory standardized tests, charter schools and increasing privatization of our education system." There are very few in support of this legislation, due to the fact that America relies heavily on the public education system. Most of American civilians are working middle class or living in poverty; public education will be these civilians doorway to a brighter future.
Government officials seem to be too preoccupied with grasping at money to pay attention to the consequences of their actions. Think about the world if "Education Nation" were in effect. Economic strain on middle class families would be a harsh reality, especially in the for the families with more than one child. Then the rise of drop outs would rise steeply, perhaps not from the students disinterest in furthering his/her education, but from their parents inability to pay tuition or the student drops out to help pay for their siblings education (s).
Privatizing education would exclude those who, for the time being, have the opportunity to get an education without drowning their family in tuition costs; that, sadly, happens to be what college is for.
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