Thinking in the Midst 62. The Philosophy of Education Finance
Dec 20, 2024
In this episode, Dave Backer, an expert in education policy and school finance, and Heather DuBois-Bourenane, the dynamic Executive Director of the Wisconsin Public Education Network, dive deep into the complexities of school funding. They discuss how financial structures shape educational equity and community engagement. From revealing insights about bond statements to practical advice on local activism, they highlight the critical roles of transparency and advocacy in reforming education finance. Get ready to rethink how money impacts learning!
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Finance Shapes The Value Of Schooling
- School finance practices (counting, valuing, investing) shape how society values education and students.
- Dave Backer argues that finance isn't peripheral but constitutes the material conditions of schooling.
From Philosophy To Finance Organizing
- Dave recounts studying philosophy, teaching, and joining Occupy Wall Street which shifted his politics toward school finance organizing.
- His movement experience led him to apply Marxist ideas to understand and change school funding structures.
Policy Shock Sparked Advocacy
- Heather describes moving from academia to advocacy after Scott Walker's major cuts and collective bargaining changes in Wisconsin.
- That political moment forced her to study school finance and become an accidental expert.
