Summary of
“ The Handwriting on the Wall: Resisting Technoglobalism’s Assault on Education”
In “The Handwriting on the Wall: Resisting Technoglobalism’s Assault on Education” by Landon Winnner. The author argues, the disadvantages brought about by the corporate practice of “technoglobalism.” He relates to the elimination of job security, funding for social interest and education to support his argument. Corporate practice has brought about a new ideology. He shows us that corporate principles threaten to undermine education. Winner explains corporate methods used to undermine education and its consequences in hopes that educators take a stand to preserve the integrity of education.
Winner argues the budget crisis social institutions make education an easy target for corporate seizure. He explains industrial methods used by corporations to cut costs have become common practice for educational institutions. Winner explains educational downsizing such as layoffs, attrition and program cuts. Tenured educators are replaced with “road scholars”. Academic programs are replaced with “vocational” teaching. Schools offer packages of “distant “learning”. The Author then explains the enormous pressure on state and local government to fund education. Corporate practice has become an acceptable way to alleviate the high cost of education. However Winner points out, it poses a risk to traditional education. Corporations see potential to sell services
at a reduced rate for profit to schools. As a result corporations are positioned to take over the educational system.
Winner states corporate principles undermine educational philosophy. The author asserts that students under the corporate definition are “customers”. He states that by corporate standards it is acceptable to view students as viable candidates used for commercial advantage. Education is seen as a valuable “commodity”. He argues the ideology clearly shifts power from traditional education to the...