Part 1: INTRO
The school is a self-similar part of society, so why do we study it as anything but? Look [out] to the world, and we'll see what's within: The movements of one are the movements of the other. See the neoliberal ways of the world? They leak into schools like tap-water into sinks. Purposely tampered with, but seemingly natural
Free-market. Freedom. Freedom of the individual. Equality. Equal standards for everyone, everyone gets the same. Objectivity. We must remain neutral. Accountability. Accountable for your own actions
These are the seeds that will spawn competition. Competition creates the best. The best education, the best medical research, the best product for the consumer, us, the people. The best society
[Interlude]
Background Music: Alabama - Frank Ocean
Background Sounds: Restaurant - Matthew Fisher
Person 1: Ok, ok, ok, I get it, I get it. What I wanna know is exactly how neoliberalism affects me though, you know…
Person 2: Well actually…
Person 1: ...and I don't wanna hear any of that hippy type of stuff either, ok? Really, in my cla**room, how does this even affect my programs of study [in secondary sciences]?
Person 2: Well let me tell you a story;
Part 2: Middle
[Verse 1]
Penelope, the daughter of a King, his only heir
Was brought into a world where everyday war was declared
The only way of life, nobody questioned what was there
The thought of shedding blood was just the same as breathing air...
[Verse 2]
Penelope -elope, she's been growing up so fast
But still young when her father pa**ed
Now a young Tut ruler, you could never fool her
Got the best intentions ‘bout the tensions with the rulers
Nelly was the stick in her daddy's right hand
He's the one who tell her what to do when in command
Counsel to the Queen cause he understands the land
Nelly always know, Nelly always gotta plan
Nobody trynna pick a bone with Penny's nation
Nelly say “the reason is they scared of our war stations:
Our people are for war, every job, every creation
The purpose of these schools is to teach these war formations”
Penny never liked the life of fighting
Maybe there was more to life than spite and
Not just one, we all are one, more like it
Looking to the sky, so sweet like icing
[Nelly says] “stop looking at the blue sky, the river's red
And you don't have to listen, [but] if you don't we might be dead
War is what defines our nation's time, heed what I said
Cause these other Kings, they just like me the head”
Penny is accountable for everybody's safety
Everyone the same, from the mothers to the babies
She gotta do what Nelly say, at least a little maybe
But she also wanna change the way they think
Show her people another point of view
But still prepare them for defences
One by one start challenging the [status] quo
And break down these war-torn fences
Part 3: Food for thought
Background music: Good Guy - Frank Ocean
Background Sounds: Restaurant - Matthew Fisher
Person 2: … so I guess what I'm saying is, I think the problem with the influence neoliberalism has had on everything as a whole, including education, is that neoliberalism tries to apply a rigid set of rules to a bunch of different areas. I don't think it's fair for us to say that all neoliberal ideas are invalid or that they have no value, but an entire system based on a rigid set of rules hardly seems appropriate for a dynamic and flexible world
References