Over the weekend I watched Bob Bowden's fab new documentary on education, The Cartel. I've seen many a political documentary over the past few years and the ones on education are invariably my favorite. It's hard to imagine a richer subject matter: American public schools spend lots of money, get dismal results, lack accountability, are ripe with corruption, and are beholden to powerful political machines. If you can't find a good story to tell in that mess, you might as well go home.
Bowden uses New Jersey's school system as a case study for American education more broadly. It makes for an interesting tale. Of all the states, New Jersey spends the most money per pupil (aside: D.C. spends the most, but it's not a state) but doesn't have a track record of results. The state allows charter schools but rarely approves new ones (we don't want anyone making the district schools look bad, do we?). There is rampant local corruption and patronage (insert Sopranos joke here). Teachers and administrators who speak up about such abuses are often punished (instead of, you know, the wrongdoers).
I'm sure New Jersey taxpayers would be interested in the following stories:
-$1 billion (BILLION!) went "missing" in a school construction project. No one was arrested.
-A former teacher of the year was punished for noticing budget discrepancies in her school (aka salaries for people who didn't exist).
-A principal was removed for trying to discipline teachers who were watching porn on their computers at work.
-How hard is it to get rid of a bad teacher in New Jersey? It took two years to fire a teacher who was punching kids in class.
Those are just a few examples, but the film features many more. Bowden interviews all the major players in New Jersey education from school board members and other government officials to parents to teachers to union officials. The interviews come together nicely to reveal a complicated web of the education system and the political machine that drives it. The film is harsh on the state teachers union for trying to protect the status quo, but Bowden is never unfair to the group -- he even gives ample screen time to the union president so she can present her side of the story.
Aesthetically, the movie flows well and the graphics are well done. It could serve to be a bit shorter, but it never gets boring. Anyone interested in education policy should enjoy the film. New Jersey taxpayers would also be wise to take a look at the film. I doubt they would be very pleased with where their money is going.
More info and theater info here.
Bowden uses New Jersey's school system as a case study for American education more broadly. It makes for an interesting tale. Of all the states, New Jersey spends the most money per pupil (aside: D.C. spends the most, but it's not a state) but doesn't have a track record of results. The state allows charter schools but rarely approves new ones (we don't want anyone making the district schools look bad, do we?). There is rampant local corruption and patronage (insert Sopranos joke here). Teachers and administrators who speak up about such abuses are often punished (instead of, you know, the wrongdoers).
I'm sure New Jersey taxpayers would be interested in the following stories:
-$1 billion (BILLION!) went "missing" in a school construction project. No one was arrested.
-A former teacher of the year was punished for noticing budget discrepancies in her school (aka salaries for people who didn't exist).
-A principal was removed for trying to discipline teachers who were watching porn on their computers at work.
-How hard is it to get rid of a bad teacher in New Jersey? It took two years to fire a teacher who was punching kids in class.
Those are just a few examples, but the film features many more. Bowden interviews all the major players in New Jersey education from school board members and other government officials to parents to teachers to union officials. The interviews come together nicely to reveal a complicated web of the education system and the political machine that drives it. The film is harsh on the state teachers union for trying to protect the status quo, but Bowden is never unfair to the group -- he even gives ample screen time to the union president so she can present her side of the story.
Aesthetically, the movie flows well and the graphics are well done. It could serve to be a bit shorter, but it never gets boring. Anyone interested in education policy should enjoy the film. New Jersey taxpayers would also be wise to take a look at the film. I doubt they would be very pleased with where their money is going.
More info and theater info here.
How fun! I linked to this on last weekend's weekly roundup and am just now getting around to letting you know. (I guess we were busy celebrating Easter!) Thanks so much for sharing!
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Posted by: Amie | July 16, 2010 at 01:37 PM
The Cartel is one of the most amazing documentaries I've seen, It show the reality that we live everyday living in a corrupted world.
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