WAITING FOR SUPERMAN - A second look at this landmark film in the Betsy DeVos era

When I first saw WAITING FOR SUPERMAN several years ago, I was initially blown away by the power of the filmmaking.  It was by far the most authorative film on education to that date--maybe even still to this day.  The second time I saw it with a friend, who was also a teacher and former filmmaker (birds of a feather...).  However, she looked past the emotional journey within the film, and instead, saw it as being anti-public education right from the start.  She focused particularly on the anti-union parts of the film.  And while that strand of the film is definitely evident, it's not the only story within the film.

The part of the film that settles on the lottery element demonstrates the inherent problem within the privatization/voucher debate.  If all parents were given a voucher to use at any school of their choice, at some point all of the "good" schools would reach their peak levels.  Then what?  Where will the rest of the remaining students turn when the "good" schools reach capacity?  What types of students will likely be left behind with few real options once the voucher program is put in place?  That's when we as a nation will be right back where we are now:  trying to figure out how to educate those that come from the poorest neighborhoods in America.  That voucher will not put every child in a "good" school simply because there are not enough "good" schools to educate every student in America.  If it were, we'd settle this issue right now.

Watching the film again today, the thought of how to educate the poor stood out like a bull in a china shop.  Assuming the advocates of privatization know that it is not a panacea for all (not even most) as well, what is their real goal?  The idea of vouchers may sound good on its face, particularly to poor parents in struggling schools, but as as a matter of policy, how would it benefit all students rather than just a few?  That is, public education definitely has its problems, and may need a complete overhaul in design, but privatization is most certainly not the savior that Ms. DeVos is selling it as.  


http://www.takepart.com/waiting-for-superman/