Resisting the Neoliberal Attack on Chile´s Public

Schools and Teacher Unions

Dr. Jill Pinkney Pastrana

University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

Changing visions of Education

“The fundamental aim is to attend to the needs of the individual in the different stages of his life and to the communities in their struggle for development…’ ‘For us every society must be a school and school must become an integrated element of that big school which is society. Schools must be open to pressures important to the community.”

President Salvador Allende, (Popular Unity Government (1970 - 1973)

Alternative Ideology

“It is imperative that we change the Chilean’s mentality… the government of the Armed Forces intends to open a new phase in our national destiny, giving way to new generations of Chileans who have been shaped in a school of healthy civic habits.’ ‘The political recess can only be ended when a new generation of Chileans formed in accordance with nationalist ideals is able to assume the direction of public life.”

General Pinochet, Military Junta (1973-1989)

Milton Friedman visits Chile

• March 25, 1975

• Beginning work of the “Chicago Boys”

Characteristics of Neo-liberal Education Reform

• Changing Role of the State• Standards and Testing

• Decentralization• Leadership• Funding

• Privatization• Vouchers• Move towards Public/Private Partnerships• Competition• Flexible Labor

• Curricula • Refocused towards “market” and “measurable” standards.

But… the logic of the Market Remains:

What were the results of Neo-liberal education reform in

Chile?• Privatization – “best business in town” - free market

capitalism thriving as the best way to run schools, private interests subsidized

• Decentralization - Municipalization (“alcaldizacion”), “local control”

• Competition - part of the free market fiasco (60% of operating costs to advertising)

• Increased problems of equity and access• Teaching Profession under siege• Continued undermining of the public schools

Privatization

• “Beyond euphemisms, privatization of health, social security and education operated by neo-liberals has imposed a brutal rationale: depending on the amount of money you have, you will have so much health care, quality of education for your children and pension upon retirement. If you are privileged, you will have access to privileged services. If you are poor, you will have to make do with what the public system is able to give you.” Fernando De Laire. “El discurso del 21 de mayo y los debates emergentes” Revista Mensaje, July 2002

Fallout for Students and Communities

• Ideological shift to a Free Market Education of consumption

• Erosion of schools as community centers• Deteriorated classroom conditions• Decreased likelihood that schools will be

occupied by diverse (in terms of class) populations

• Declining enrollments in municipal schools

End Municipalization -

• differentiate between ending the state system and centralized state control

En la práctica, la aplicación de este modelo de municipalización y su perpetuación por los gobiernos de la Concertación significó el establecimiento de una “educación para pobres”. Una fabricación de mano de obra barata no calificada cuyo bajo costo jugará un rol funcional al proyecto capitalista neoclásico imperante. Todo esto bajo la bandera ideológica de la “libertad de enseñanza”.

Conclusiones GeneralesCongreso Nacional de Dirigentes Secundarios2007

What lessons can we learn from the ongoing struggle for a

democratic and equitable education from the Chilean

experience?

Words of Wisdom

“I think the neo-liberal policy makers did us a favor, now we know what definitely does not work in education.” (Iván Nuñez, June 1999)

Logic of the Market?What is the purpose of Education?

• Forming Democratic Citizens?

• Contributing to the full potential of our human condition?

• Creating Skilled Workers?

• Creating Good Consumers?

• Creating People who “know their place?”