Becoming Competitive

"And let it be noted that there is no more delicate matter to take in hand, nor more dangerous to conduct, nor more doubtful in its success, than to set up as a leader in the introduction of changes. For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only the lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new. This lukewarm temper arises partly from the fear of adversaries who have the laws on their side and partly from the incredulity of mankind, who will never admit the merit of anything new, until they have seen it proved by the event."  Nicolo Machiavelli

This story from Oakland, CA illustrates the truth of Machiavelli's six-hundred-year-old quote (human nature doesn't change). Although Oakland schools are for the most part disastrous for their students, the new-broom superintendent is encountering strong resistance - from many quarters - to his efforts to improve them. Most interesting to me is the suggestion that the teachers' unions are directing most of their fire at the charter schools while seemingly oblivious to the threat that open enrollment (Oakland parents can now send their children to any public school - charter or conventional - in the district) is posing. 

Oakland education leaders have long enjoyed a very comfortable life because they were more or less the only game in town. It's like a cookie manufacturer with a monopoly. Of course, the cookie manufacturer loves having his customers over a barrel, and of course the cookie manufacturer will fight tooth and nail to preserve his monopoly. But when push comes to shove, if the cookie manufacturer can't make his new competitors go away, he will have to improve his own products and customer service and maybe even lower his prices. That's how competition works.

Right now, in Oakland, the education manufacturers are still in the first phase - trying to make the new competition go away. For the children's sake, let's hope they fail.  H/T TB

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