"We’ve Been Had": Neoliberal Initiatives in Urban Education

• In Event: Emerging Possibilities and Critical Educational Initiatives

Abstract

In this session, we analyze how neoliberal discourses in common and local educational programs can reaffirm racist ideologies. We use qualitative research methods to analyze public-facing materials from three educational initiatives – SVPR, Accelerate, and EquityWatch (all pseudonyms) using a framework of colorblind racism, property rights, and neoliberal ideology. Our interests in these initiatives are personal. This is because we have each worked in positions as teachers and teacher-educators that encouraged they we support or implement these initiatives. Each of these programs share a common foundation of serving neoliberal ideology in urban spaces. After our analysis, we provide a series of strategies in the form of critical questions for educators to engage in a process of critique of similar programs and policies.

Authors

• Erin Till Miller, University of North Carolina - Charlotte

• Samuel Jaye Tanner, University of Iowa

• Andrea McCloskey, Pennsylvania State University

• Brian Kissel, Vanderbilt University