Providing for the Priceless Student
Ideologies of Choice in an Emerging Educational Market
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11366386 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Scott Davies (0000-0001-7104-7525, McMaster University, corresponding author), Linda Quirke (0000-0001-5923-8222, McMaster University) |
| Year | 2005 |
| Volume | 111 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 523-547 |
| Publication date | 2005-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | American Journal of Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0195-6744 • E-ISSN: 1549-6511 |
| Publisher | University of Chicago Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1086/431182 |
| OpenAlex | W2134334193 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 13 |
| References cited | 18 |
The growing popularity of school choice is typically linked to the spread of neoliberal ideology. Identifying four components of this ideology, we examine the rationales of providers in an emerging private school market. Data come from interviews and site visits at 45 “third‐sector” private schools in Toronto, Canada. We find that only one of the four components has a strong resonance among these educators. Few private school operators sharply criticize public schools, compete via quantitative performance indicators, or are strongly business oriented. However, they voice a philosophy of matching their personal talents to the needs of “unique” children. Overall, rather than being influenced by neoliberalism, these providers are more directly driven by personalized rationales that prize tailored education in specialized niches. We draw two conclusions from these findings. First, they demonstrate how ideologies of choice are shaped by their market setting, in this case, small proprietorship, in contrast to a corporate environment. Second, they highlight how providers can be motivated by new cultures of consumerism and intensive child rearing when working in highly uncertain conditions. We recommend that theories of choice recognize the range of educational markets and the specific motives of their providers
Business · Consumerism · Economic growth · Economics · Ideology · Market economy · Matching (statistics · Neoliberalism (international relations · Political science · Popularity · Private sector · Public relations · School choice · Social science · Sociology · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Global Educational Reforms and Inequalities · Law · Medicine · School Choice and Performance · Marketing
School Choice
Negotiating alternativity within boundaries
Putting Social Movements in their Place
The Promise of a Sociology Degree in Canadian Higher Education
Educational Entrepreneurialism in the Private Tutoring Industry
The testimony of neoliberal contradiction in education choice and privatisation in a poor country
Crafting Legitimation Projects
Does Market Competition Encourage Strategic Action in the Private Education Sector
School Choice
Choice without markets
Crafting Legitimate Identities
Le public du soutien scolaire privé
Homeschool and Underage Drinking
The Market Approach to Education
Economic Action and Social Structure
Choosing Schools
Pricing the priceless child
Tinkering toward Utopia
Public Goods, Private Goods
Away with all teachers
Big Policies/Small World
School Choice Policies in England and the United States
The risky business of choosing a high school
On ‘Politics, Markets, and American Schools‘
Higher Ed, Inc. The Rise of the For-Profit University
School Choice by Default? Understanding the Demand for Private Tutoring in Canada
School Choice
Globalization and Educational Reforms in Anglo-American Democracies
The Transformation of Private Tutoring
| Unique citing works | 13 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,59 |
| Citation span | 2004 - 2026 (23) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 13 |