Abstract
Most systems of public education have experienced major change in recent years and more is clearly in store. There is much debate as to whether the public good is served. This paper proposes a `public good' test of policy and practice based around six core values (choice, equity, access, efficiency, economic, growth and harmony). Three scenarios for the future of public education are tested against these values, with only one offering an optimal balance. Nine domains of policy and practice are explored in the light of these values (curriculum, pedagogy, design, professionalism, funding, leadership, management, governance and boundary spanning). Abandonment of some policies and practices is proposed to help ensure the feasibility of this work.
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Caldwell, B.J. A `Public Good' Test to Guide the Transformation of Public Education. Journal of Educational Change 1, 307–329 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010022506074
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010022506074