High Stakes: School and University Teaching

Threats to our Professions: Strategies for Resistance and Change

October 27, 2001
Temple University, Philadelphia

Schools, universities and the people who learn and work there are under assault, in spite of one "education president" after another. The most obvious threats to public schools could be the high stakes testing movement,
along with school choice, voucher schemes, and desperately inadequate funding in many districts. For college and university workers, big issues are theincreasing use of adjunct labor and the pressure on universities to act more like businesses. 

The two groups are differently situated and face different threats. Not only that, there is a good deal of indifference and sometimes resentment between them.* Public school teachers can see college people as privileged and condescending.  College teachers can see public schools as centers of
conformity and shallow training.

Yet current challenges to both groups have similar roots-the drive for efficiency, accountability, service to US corporations in their effort to be globally competitive. Privatization is a threat to both, though in different
forms. Are both groups losing autonomy, being deprofessionalized? Is corporate power the main force blocking just, equal, and democratic education?

If so, can we find common ground to fight on?

The conference will explore these questions and ask if there are waysprogressive teachers and students in both sectors can work together for social justice and equality at all levels of education. There will be time for
networking and organizing.

Morning panels and workshops will focus on (1) accountability, assessment, high stakes testing, etc.; and (2) erosion of professional autonomy by legislatures, regents, trustees.* Afternoon panels and workshops will
concentrate on (1) job security, tenure, part-time labor, work conditions; and (2) privatization, vouchers and "choice", and commercialization of the university. Additionally: there will be an open editorial meeting (all welcome) of  Workplace: A Journal for Academic Labor. 
 
 

This conference is being co-sponsored by Teachers for a Democratic Culture and Radical Teacher.* 

For more information, contact nicolem@astro.temple.edu or215-204-2041.

Updates and a registration form will soon be available at www.tdc2000.org 
Registration will be free, but we will gladly accept contributions for our annual graduate student activist award.