Review of Philanthropy, Hidden Strategy, and Collective Resistance: a Primer for Concerned Educators by K

September 2, 2020 ISSN 1094-5296 deMarrais, K., Brewer, T. J., Herron, B., Atkinson, J. C., & Lewis, J. B. (2019). Philanthropy, hidden strategy, and collective resistance: A primer for concerned educators. Myers Education Press. Pp. 328 ISBN: 9781975500719 Reviewed by Derek A. Houston University of Oklahoma United States A primer is an introduction to and foundation for a larger conversation, a place to begin critical investigation. In Philanthropy, Hidden Strategy, and Collective Resistance: A Primer for Concerned Educators, authors deMarrais and colleagues offer a point of entry for understanding how philanthropic persons have systematically created a foundation to influence education politics and policy to benefit their self-interest. The authors use historical timelines and case studies to highlight important individuals and groups that have helped shape the narrative for the need for education reform. They make an explicit link between the political strategies set forth in the 1960s, the funding that supported these strategies, and how that investment in those strategies has influenced politics and policy of education. Furthermore, the authors center neoliberalism (e.g., market-driven policies) and conservatism as the driving forces behind the education reform movement. Houston, D. (2020, September 2). Review of Philanthropy, hidden strategy, and collective resistance: A primer for concerned educators by K. deMarrais, T. J. Brewer, B. Herron, C. Atkinson & J. B. Lewis. Education Review, 27. http://dx.doi.org/10.14507/er.v27.2763 Education Review 2 The text begins with a discussion of and individualism are the solution to education neoliberalism and conservatism, grounding the reform. The book makes it plain that liberal- text in these ideological traditions. The authors leaning individuals and organizations have then provide a chapter-by-chapter discussion taken the easy way out in the efforts to of the multi-leveled approach to the equitably support public education. dismantling of public education. The book Conservatism as ideology is also central to concludes on a more positive note with the book. While neoliberalism centers evidence of community-centered education capitalism, conservatism centers nationalism, philanthropy and a discussion of additional and as such, the tenets of nationalism resources and ideas for collective action and (adherence to morality and tradition). In resistance. Each chapter, except the first, general, ideology is also seen in the discussion offers practical suggestions for collective of the strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution action to help bring attention to and possibly and Bill of Rights, with an underlying thwart the neoliberal dismantling of public conservative implication that strict adherence education. The book is centered around three occurs only when it benefits the tenets of interrelated themes: ideology, foundation, and conservatism. The authors also highlight multiplicity. The authors weave a narrative that ideology in their discussion of Myrdal’s incorporates one or more of the themes to “American Creed,” providing evidence that guide the reader towards an understanding of they, too, believe in the “ideals of liberty, the depths and severity of the problems at justice, and equality” as an assertion of hand. American ideology and custom. Furthermore, The theme of ideology is central to the additional evidence is provided in the book, as noted specifically in chapter one and discussion of the Jeffersonian principles referenced ad nauseum throughout the book. As promoted by the American Legislative noted, neoliberalism is a market-based Exchange Council (ALEC) as well as the ideology grounded in capitalist ideals. The assumptions of capitalism as the American authors focus on the tenets of neoliberalism system of government and business. broadly and show how these tenets impacted, The theme of foundation is also central to and continue to impact, the education reform this text. In multiple chapters, the authors movement. Specifically, it is made clear that make it clear that the foundation for the “capitalism defines all aspects of everyday life, agenda of the education reform movement is including education” (p. 3). Ideology also grounded in neoliberal and conservative appears in discussions of individualism and ideologies. The agenda, according to the meritocracy, both of which are fundamental to authors, started with the Powell Manifesto (a the neoliberal ideological assumptions of the foundational document from the 1970s), a American dream. This ideological framing is centralized and foundational purpose, and a used by both conservatives and liberals in the foundation of consistent donors that believed justification of education reform, particularly in the purpose. As an example, the authors in the K-12 school system. The justification note that the coordinated and systematic for vouchers and school choice is rooted in process by which the agenda was established individualism. For liberal-leaning individuals laid a foundation. Additionally, the theme of interested in public education, this reality is foundation comes to light in the multiple important to understand. The authors make it discussions of resources. The authors make plain that some left-leaning individuals have specific note that resources, particularly bought into the ideology that, first, the public monetary donations, were and are school system is failing, and second, that continuously targeted to create and support an market-driven reforms based on meritocracy infrastructure that leads to coordinated efforts Review of Philanthropy, Hidden Strategies, and Collective Resistance 3 to influence policy at the local, state, and Furthermore, the concept of multiplicity is national levels. inherent in how the strategy was tiered. The authors made it evident that systematic The authors discuss these foundational measures through an examination of the organization at multiple levels was necessary American Legislative Exchange Council for long-standing and sustained changed. (ALEC) and the philanthropic efforts of the Multiple actors and foundations, situated in Koch Foundation on college campuses. ALEC multiple spaces, from the federal government is the foundation or base of conservative state to state governments to philanthropic legislative change. Furthermore, ALEC foundations that support education reform, provides the infrastructure where members support the cause, through multiple forms of draft plug-n-play conservative legislation that communication. can be introduced seamlessly in any state as if Additionally, there are also multiple entry state legislators were ordering their legislation points of implementation of the agenda. For from a menu. The establishment of ALEC was example, consider college campuses. The ingenious, as it centralized and coordinated the authors point out how the Koch brothers gain efforts of the conservative movement. It also access to college administrators with their provided conservative philanthropic direct philanthropy, fund research centers that foundations a one-stop-shop through which to support professors and graduate students, and direct resources that could influence policy in also fund conservative undergraduate student state governments. On college campuses, the organizations through their affiliation with theme of foundation is exemplified with the Turning Point USA. There are also multiple establishment of research centers, places of higher education institutions that have legitimacy for the agenda. Resources are used received Koch money, with approximately to establish footholds on college campuses in 10% of all higher education institutions the form of research centers, fund graduate receiving money. In addition to the multiple student education, and support undergraduate levels of access and influence within a student conservative organizations. The university, monies donated to institutions may research centers, in turn, provide a foundation contain multiple stipulations in order to for legitimization. receive the money. Research and policy briefs The foundational elements of the agenda from faculty research centers that are are consistently supported with capital legitimized by being on college campuses, resources. All the while, the foundational messages pushed out by groups like Turning message, grounded in neoliberal and Point USA, conservative television and radio, conservative ideologies, is consistently spread and social media are all used. The college through multiple media outlets, including campus is but one example of how the social media. strategy for education reform is executed at multiple levels and disseminated by multiple The last theme discussed here is the idea sources. of multiple, or multiplicity. In this case, multiple refers to the diversification of people, For the good that deMarrais and places, and things that made up the discussed colleagues do, this text is not above critique. strategies. The authors organize the book The authors critically examine neoliberalism according to multiple levels, mirroring how the but focus on income inequality and the impact education reform agenda is implemented. on the poor. Given the structure of neoliberal From individuals to state legislatures to the ideology in the U.S. context, one could Supreme Court, the agenda is implemented at question, is neoliberalism inherently anti- multiple levels where it can be influenced. Black? The authors had numerous opportunities to address critically the

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