The real cost of neoliberalism for educators and students

ABSTRACT

Nearly five decades of neoliberal economic and education policies have created western societies defined by individualism and inequity. In the face of the global Covid-19 pandemic, amid devastating death tolls and fragmented government responses, these societies have proven ill-prepared to do the hard work to collectively combat the virus and support all of their citizens. This article explores the five Cs of neoliberal education (conservatism, commerce, conventions, competitiveness and conformity) and the caustic effects they have yielded. Further, the article posits that the pandemic has offered a once in a generation opportunity to rethink western schooling based on a new set of Cs starting with community and its antecedents of collaboration, compassion, care, creativity and criticality, voice and choice, conscience, conservation, commitment and capacity. Progressive school principals and the educators they lead have long railed against the status quo that marginalizes the talents of many students. These same educators will soon find themselves ensnared in a renewed ideological tug-of-war between neo-liberal forces and those hoping to humanize the unforgiving face of governmentality. The authors provide guidance to and assert that school principals must fully engage in this tug-of-war to leverage this terrible opportunity for meaningful change.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).