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American School Choice Research

Posted on:2008-03-05Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:X J TangFull Text:PDF
GTID:1117360215954701Subject:Comparative Education
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
In the late 20th century, a new wave of school choice featuring parents' authority in the free choice of school and education has emerged in America, distinguishing itself from the traditional one. Unsatisfied with the poor situation that public schools are now confronted with though with numerous reforms, the American government has pinned its hope on the free school choice policy to help foster the competitive education market, thus stimulating public schools to take initiative in innovation and self-improvement. It has been the first time in the history of America that school choice is being supported, encouraged and even promoted in name of the government since the establishment of nearby enrollment system stipulated by public schools. However, school choice is now under many debates in spite of governmental support. Among these debates, the common ones are, for instance, whether school choice accelerates the improvement of public schools, or whether it is good for the enhancement of students' performance or whether it exalts parents' satisfaction with public schools. In addition, the major divergences lie in such issues as whether school choice undermines fairness and justice in its pursuit of freedom; whether it impedes the inheritance of values held by the democratic society; whether it impairs the unity of the nation and American ethnic groups , and so forth.Under this circumstances, the twists and turns in the development of American school choice in the near 40 years has an intimate relationship with the factors underlining those divergences. Generally speaking, the factors include the ideal of liberty and equality as well as the American interest that is pertinent to individuals, nation and interest groups. Yet there are two aspects to be concerned with if we put it in a more specific way. On one hand, school choice is in line with the pursuit of individual liberty in American values, whereas the doubt and accusation of its damaging effect on equality and fairness have become one of the reasons for the incontinuity of its development. In spite of the high status of equality in the American ideal, one cannot have liberty and equality both. School choice is in such dilemma that it cannot have them both either. In fact, school choice is a reflection of the present American political preference of liberty, for most political leaders and scholars take it for granted that liberty would give rise to the improvement of efficiency and quality in education as well as the innovation of public school systems. In this case, more outstanding figures would be available to keep America ahead and maintain its hegemony. Meanwhile, in conservatives' perspective, the competitive education market that results from free school choice would pioneer a new way for the market economy principles or the mastery of public fields by private sectors. On the other hand, school choice would better serve the needs of individuals, interest groups and the nation in the present American society. Their political, economical, religious and racial, and cultural interests would be achieved harmoniously in the process of school choice. Nevertheless, school choice would decrease the interests of some individuals and groups at times. The fulfillment and decrease of interests explains in one way the disputes and divergences around school choice.American school choice has run into the early 21st century in spite of unceasing debates and compromises. The emphasis of consumer education on free school choice would have a significant impact on the development of American fundamental education. In particular, free school choice enables the market-oriented management and the public schools that differ from the government-run schools to play a significant role in American fundamental education with the consideration of its future administrative system and the realization of the leading free school format of public education.
Keywords/Search Tags:American school choice, ideal, interest
PDF Full Text Request
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