Harvard Business School professor Clay Christensen looks at President Obama’s stimulus spending for education and finds it missing the grade in important areas.
Writing on Harvard Business Publishing with Michael Horn, Christensen suggests that at least some of the spending is throwing money at existing, outdated programs rather than retooling education for the needs of the 21st century.
For example:
Early Education The plan’s emphasis on early learning is a good idea, but propping up lackluster efforts such as Head Start should be a nonstarter. “As studies have shown, many of these programs haven’t proven to be effective and don’t address the root causes of children’s deficits.”
School Modernization Money to modernize schools with high-speed internet access is necessary, but not enough. “Exploring creative options like using these funds to not just build networks for the schools but also build wireless networks that can bring low-income communities online as well as the schools would be wise.”
Classroom Technology Spending $650 million for educational technology is poring good money after bad; ust stuffing computers in classrooms has not provided positive results in the past, according to the authors. “Reallocating existing technology dollars toward online learning — from insuring equitable access to improving curriculum and professional development — would be more productive.”
Is the Obama plan to much window dressing and not enough reform? What do you think?
