Philanthropy, Hidden Strategy, and Collective Resistance

“(T)his book is an incredibly important resource for educators at all levels. Philanthropy in education is all too frequently hidden behind closed doors with the donors’ true intentions obfuscated and working in their own best interests—rather than those of the public. This text could easily serve as the centerpiece of an educational foundations course for future educators to familiarize themselves with some of the ulterior motives behind seemingly well-meaning philanthropic movements. Additionally, the message of empowerment via praxis throughout the book serves as a blueprint and provides resources for democratically engaged citizens to get engaged at the level of grassroots activism for the purpose of holding policymakers accountable for their ceding power to the wealthy elite and to push policymakers to defend public education, one of the cornerstones of a well-functioning democracy.”

A primer is an introduction to and foundation for a larger conversation, a place to begin critical investigation. In Philanthropy, Hidden Strategy, and Collective Resistance: A Primer for Concerned Educators, authors deMarrais and colleagues offer a point of entry for understanding how philanthropic persons have systematically created a foundation to influence education politics and policy to benefit their self-interest. The authors use historical timelines and case studies to highlight important individuals and groups that have helped shape the narrative for the need for education reform. They make an explicit link between the political strategies set forth in the 1960s, the funding that supported these strategies, and how that investment in those strategies has influenced politics and policy of education. Furthermore, the authors center neoliberalism (e.g., market-driven policies) and conservatism as the driving forces behind the education reform movement. (Click HERE to read the full review.)

Derek A. Houston, University of Oklahoma, for Education Review, Vol. 27

"Philanthropy, Hidden Strategy, and Collective Resistance makes a timely and critical contribution to conversations surrounding the impact of philanthropy on US education. As such, this text will be of interest to a diverse set of disciplines including, but not limited to: education and the sub-fields sociology of education, history of education, philosophy of education, and higher education; political science and sociology. In addition to its use as a teaching tool within higher education classrooms, this text will be of equal interest to educational researchers, policy-makers, educational philanthropists, and practitioners."

Amy Stich, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, University of Georgia

List of Tables and Figures

Preface

1. Ideology and Education: An Introduction

2. “The Haves and the Have Mores:” Fueling a Conservative Ideological War on Public Education (or Tracking the Money)” [reprinted]

3. The Haves and the Have Mores”: An Update, 2005–2018

4. Citizens United and the Disuniting of the United States by John Dayton, J.D., Ed.D., & Jamie B. Lewis, J.D., Ph.D.

5. Hidden Strategies State by State: The History and Work of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), 1973–2018

6. Philanthropy Goes to College: Tracking the Money

7. Ideological and Philanthropic Bedfellows: Elevating the Individual over the Collective Good in Education

8. The Megaphone Behind the Myth: The Media’s Role in Shaping Public Discourse about Education Reform

9. Foundry10: A Case of Philanthropy Building School and Community Partnerships
by Lisa Castaneda

10. Collective Resistance: Resources for Change

About the Authors

Index

Kathleen deMarrais

Kathleen deMarrais is Professor, Emerita, Qualitative Research in the Mary Frances Early College of Education at the University of Georgia. Her research interests include qualitative research methods, critical qualitative research, and archival methods. In addition to numerous articles and book chapters, her recent books include Exploring the Archives: A Beginner’s Guide for Qualitative Researchers (with K. Roulston, 2021), Conservative Philanthropies and Organizations Shaping U.S. Educational Policy and Practice (with B. Herron & J. Copple, 2020), and Philanthropy, Hidden Strategy, and Collective Resistance: A Primer for Concerned Educators (with T. J. Brewer, J. C. Atkinson, B. Herron, and J. Lewis, 2019). In her spare time she enjoys gardening, raising chickens, baking pies, and exploring local community history.

T. Jameson Brewer

T. Jameson Brewer, Ph.D., is an associate professor of social foundations of education at the University of North Georgia. His teaching experience spans the middle school, high school, undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Broadly conceptualized, his research focuses on the impact of privatization of public education by way of school vouchers, charter schools, alternative teacher certification, and homeschooling. Additionally, he researches the impacts of Christian nationalism on public schools and democracy. Find more at www.tjamesonbrewer.com.

Jamie C. Atkinson

Jamie C. Atkinson is an Assistant Professor of Foundations in Education and Master of Arts in Teaching Program Coordinator in the Department of Reading, Foundations, and Technology at Missouri State University. His teaching experience spans middle and high schools, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Jamie’s primary research focuses on how politics and ideologies combine to drive state educational policymaking. In addition, he examines socio-political, historical, and philosophical foundations contributing to critical democratic understandings in teacher education. His most recent article has been published in the journal Democracy and Education.

Brigette A. Herron

Brigette Adair Herron holds a Ph.D. in Adult Education from the Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy at the University of Georgia. She is from Athens, Georgia and holds graduate certificates in Women’s Studies, Interdisciplinary Qualitative Studies, and Global Health. Her scholarly research interests include transnational and justice-oriented feminist pedagogy in adult and higher education, examining the influence of philanthropy and dark money on curriculum and pedagogy in higher education, and teaching and researching with qualitative research methodology. Recent books include Philanthropy, Hidden Strategy, and Collective Resistance: A Primer for Concerned Educators (with K. deMarrais, T. J. Brewer, J. Atkinson, & J. Lewis) and Neon Side of Town: The Story of the B-52s (with S. Creney).

Jamie B. Lewis

Jamie B. Lewis is an Associate Professor and Chair of Studies in Educational Foundations at Georgia Gwinnett College began her professional career as an attorney and practiced law in Knoxville, Tennessee. She earned her PhD in Social Foundations at the University of Georgia. Jamie’s scholarship focuses on the impact of power and privilege on educational practices and policies, as well as the examination of the socio-cultural contexts of education. Her dissertation was a legal history of segregated education in Kansas between 1888 and 1954, in which she was able to combine her interests in law, sociocultural contexts, history and the ways that power and privilege impact educational practices and policies. Her current research explores how political connections between philanthropists and federal and state governments inform educational policies and practices, such as the Charter School Movement, Trigger Laws, Every Student Succeeds Act, ALEC and the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision.