The Phenomenon of Obama and the Agenda for Education

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This volume in the Critical Studies on Education and Society Series is essential reading for anyone involved with public education—teachers, administrators, students, parents, and policymakers. It addresses the future of education and its connection to a participatory democracy, offering insights from a diverse array of contributors on the complex factors influencing contemporary schooling. The analyses critically examine how globalization and neoliberalism increasingly control public institutions designed to promote the common good. Readers will be equipped to engage in vital discussions about the future of public education, advocating for changes that foster hope for all students. The authors, Carr and Porfilio, explore whether hope can audaciously overcome neoliberalism, integrating the perspectives of contributors like Christine Sleeter and Dennis Carlson, who frame the conversation around the limitations of the Obama administration's approach to educational change. The text argues that the administration's rhetoric has not translated into meaningful, transformative policies, with neoliberalism identified as a significant barrier to realizing the hopeful vision presented during Obama's campaign. Addressing the systemic inequities inherent in neoliberalism is posited as crucial for achieving the transformative hope that many aspire to see in education.