PART IV: Education is not Business

School Choice - Does It Really Improve Public Education?

When it comes to public education, there’s a debate that never seems to fade: does giving parents and students more choice actually improve the quality of education? Proponents of school choice argue that competition drives improvement, but raises some serious questions about whether that’s really the case. Spoiler alert: I’m not convinced it works the way reformers imagined.

The Corporate Mindset: 

Are Schools Really Businesses?

Starting in the 1980s, education reform took a hard turn toward a corporate mindset. The idea was simple: make schools compete for students the way businesses compete for customers, and naturally, the best schools would thrive while the worst would either improve or shut down .

But here’s the problem: education isn’t a business, and students aren’t products. While businesses thrive on profit margins and efficiency, schools should focus on learning, growth, and development. The corporate model pushed schools to adopt standardized testing as the primary measure of success. Instead of fostering creativity and critical thinking, this mindset has left schools hyper-focused on producing better test scores.

Where’s the Proof?

Despite decades of reform, there’s still no solid evidence that school choice and competition actually improve academic performance. In fact, the book points out that while competition sounds appealing in theory, it doesn’t consistently lead to better outcomes in practice .

One of the major issues is that these reforms often prioritize measurable results over meaningful learning. Instead of nurturing well-rounded thinkers, schools are pressured to hit certain benchmarks. This approach not only stifles creativity but also fails to prepare students for real-world problem-solving—skills that are increasingly vital today .

Privatization and Inequality: Who Really Benefits?

One of the most controversial aspects of school choice is the use of vouchers and charter schools. On paper, vouchers sound great—they give families the option to use public funds for private education. But in reality, they often end up diverting much-needed resources away from public schools, leaving the most vulnerable students in even worse conditions .

This kind of privatization creates a two-tier system where a select few get a quality education while the majority are left in underfunded schools. It’s like handing out lifeboats to only the lucky few while the rest are stuck trying to keep their heads above water. That completely undermines the core purpose of public education: providing equal opportunities for every child, no matter their background .

The Bigger Picture: What Are We Really Trying to Do?

The real issue here is that we’re confusing the purpose of education. Are we trying to create competitive, market-driven institutions? Or are we aiming to build a system that fosters informed, thoughtful citizens who are ready to take on the challenges of the world?

When we push schools to compete like businesses, we lose sight of the fact that education is about more than just economic outcomes. It’s about personal growth, civic responsibility, and critical thinking. Treating students like data points and schools like corporations ultimately reduces education to a numbers game rather than a transformative experience.

Rather than forcing schools to fight for survival, we should be investing in all schools to ensure they can meet the diverse needs of their students. Reform should come from educators who understand the challenges firsthand—not from business leaders who see students as outputs and schools as factories.

If we want real improvement, we need to refocus on holistic education—teaching critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration—not just cranking out higher test scores. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that public education is about building a better society, not just meeting a bottom line.