Commentary Collection
In this special collection of Commentary
essays, Frederick M. Hess and four
education scholars discuss the pros and
cons for academics who want to wade into
public debate.
Read more from the collection.
COMMENTARY
How (and When) Researchers Should Speak Truth to Power
Four guidelines for academics who want to participate in heated education debates
By Pedro A. Noguera
January 16, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online
In many respects, the polarization that characterizes the national political climate
has long been present in the debates over the direction of public education,
which took a particularly rancorous turn with the enactment of No Child Left Behind 16 years
ago. Fierce conflicts over the expansion of charter schools, school closures, high-stakes testing,
teacher evaluation, and the merits of the common core have been common in communities
across the country. Unlike the current political debates over immigration, taxes, and healthcare,
which typically pit Republicans against Democrats, the fault lines in these long-running conflicts
over education have frequently put leaders in the Democratic Party against constituencies that
are typically regarded as a stable part of their base, namely teachers’ unions and parents and
activists in low-income communities of color.
Not surprisingly, some academics (myself included) have chosen to weigh in on these education
conflicts. Some have participated actively out of a sense of moral obligation because the
research they have done has a direct bearing on the issues under debate. Others have done so
because of their close political or ideological alignment to one side or the other. Most do quickly
learn that becoming embroiled in such heated debates, especially when the stakes are high,
always comes with risks to reputation, and in some cases, even job security.
Having participated in some of these battles over the
years, I have arrived at an understanding about how
and when to intervene in the debate through our
scholarship and writing. Here are criteria that I have
found helpful:
1) Avoid calling upon others to take stands that
you are not taking yourself. For example,
although I have been critical of high-stakes testing
for many years, I have never encouraged parents to
“opt out.” I feel that this is a decision that each
parent must make on their own, and while I feel it is
appropriate to explain the merits and drawbacks
associated with high-stakes testing, I draw the line
at telling parents what to do with their children.
2) Only enter conflicts in which you have a
knowledgeable position that can be supported by research. This may seem like an
obvious rule of thumb, but I have seen many scholars drawn into debates where they lack the
expertise to offer well-reasoned positions. Invariably, their reputations are sullied when it turns
out they can’t effectively defend a position they have taken.
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3) Don’t be afraid to acknowledge the
complexity of an issue even if it angers some
people who want you to declare your allegiance
to their position. For example, I have been asked
repeatedly to weigh-in on the debate over charters
and single-gender schools. My answer has
consistently been that some are good, some are not,
and there’s no evidence to suggest that expanding
either will lead to significant improvements in
educational outcomes.
4) Don’t be afraid of speaking truth to power. If you are confident about your position on
an issue, don’t be afraid of speaking out or writing on the issue. Even if your position may be
at odds with the position of powerful political or economic interest groups, you shouldn’t
hesitate to speak for the interests of vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Sometimes, silence
is a form of complicity.
Pedro A. Noguera is a professor of education at the Graduate School of Education & Information
Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Vol. 37, Issue 17, Page 26
Published in Print: January 17, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online, as How to Decide When Your Voice Is Necessary
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