We speak with Dr. Joanne Golann of Vanderbilt University, author of “Scripting the Moves: Culture and Control in a No Excuses Charter School.” Corporate-run charter networks instill obedience and conformity above all else, leaving nothing to chance (or creativity). We look at the academic and social outcomes of “no excuses” schools, and the reasons for their lavish funding.
Overview
00:00-00:51 Intros
00:51-03:35 “No excuses” charter schools: what they are; what they do well; what they do poorly or not at all
03:35-05:35 Scripts for students and teachers and why these schools rely on them
05:35-07:05 Impact of scripts on students
07:05- 09:34 Teachers’ reactions; turnover rates
09:34-12:34 How students do after graduation
12:34-14:04 Selection process and its effects
14:04-15:23 Student attrition rates
15:23-17:43 “No excuses” results in schools without selection processes
17:43-18:48 Seen as a niche or solution to the system as a whole?
18:48-20:38 Impact of district public schools in their area
20:38-21:42 Types of citizenship skills that are developed and not developed
21:42-22:54 Individual-focused approach to equity
22:54-24:17 Parents’ roles
24:17-25:57 Relationships with communities
25:57-27:32 Difficulties in attempts to change “no excuses” culture in aftermath of George Floyd’s murder
27:32-30:15 Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.
References
Soundtrack by Poddington Bear
Dr. Christiana Best, who spent thirty years in the New York City child welfare system before becoming a full-time academic, discusses her personal experience...
We speak with Dr. John Pascarella, Chief Academic Officer of K-12 Professional Learning at USC Race and Equity Center. The Center works with schools...
We speak with Ahenewa El-Amin, who teaches AP African American Studies in Kentucky, a state with a law restricting teaching about the legacy of...