This year marks the 75th anniversary of the first cartoon featuring Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner. The show was filled with rules on how the two characters had to interact with each other, such as the only dialogue being the Road Runner’s “Beep, beep!” and all the Coyote’s contraptions coming from the ACME Corporation.
Jonathan Gyurko’s new book, Publicization, takes inspiration from these rules and applies a similar concept to education policy. Gyurko builds elaborate contraptions, like the Coyote, in an attempt to catch the Road Runner, representing a grand unified theory of education policy. However, he is often foiled by the pull of competing interests, much like gravity.
Gyurko suggests teaching the knowledge and knowledge-making process in schools to pass down social, fact-making norms to future generations. He also emphasizes the importance of democratic norms in the education system, advocating for a recommitment to these values. Additionally, Gyurko introduces the “good faith” standard for evaluating schools and teachers, blending subjective wisdom with objective data.
The ultimate goal of education, according to Gyurko, is eudaimonia, or human flourishing, which serves as a guiding principle in contrast to many contemporary education reform books.
Gyurko’s book challenges the concept of privatization in education and proposes a new model of “mutual accountability” to replace traditional top-down accountability measures. This system would involve stakeholders holding each other accountable for their respective obligations in the education system.
While Gyurko’s vision for schools is idealistic and hopeful, there are challenges and potential pitfalls in implementing his proposals. The book raises important questions about the role of private interests, factions, and democratic participation in shaping the future of education.
Overall, Gyurko’s book offers a thought-provoking perspective on education policy and the need for a new approach to improving the education system. While his ideas may face obstacles in practice, they provide valuable insights for reimagining education for the common good.
