Chapter 2: Power and Education Policy

Dr. Dan BertrandLEEA 554

DEFINING POWER

• The play of power shapes the outcome of the policy process.

• Power is an essentially contested concept.– One’s understanding of it is shaped by one’s

theory of human nature and society.• “A” has power over “B” to the extent that “A”

cqn get “B” to do something that otherwise “B” would not do.

Questions

• Does A have to be consciously aware of excercising power over B ?Does B have to be consciously aware of A’s power?

• Can A’s exercise of power cause B not to act?• Has A exercised power if B believes that what

A wants is good and eagerly agrees to do it?• Is it ethical to exercise power over another?

A DEFINITION OF POWER

• The ability of an actor to affect the behavior of another actor.

• Actor could be a superintendent, principal, governor, union president, school board, state legislature.

• The willingness to exercise power include the willingness to deploy resources.

Type of Power Relationships

• Symmetrical– Actors who have a similar degree of power– Shared power

• Assymetrical– Actors with significantly different amouts of

resources.– May use persuasion or bargaining– More powerful may use force, appeals to

authority or reward/punishment.

DISCOURSE and POWER

• Discourse – has three aspects– Text- written, spoken or combination– Discourse practice that governs the production of

the text.• Rules and traditions of meetings

– Chairman usually runs the meeting

– Social Practice• Embeds both test and discourse practice

3 Dimensions of Power1st- Explicit exercises of power

2nd- Mobilization of Bias 3rd- Shaping of Consciousness

Mechanisms Mechanisms Mechanism

Force-physical and psychic Customs Communication Processes

Economic Dominance Norms Myths

Authority- patriarchal, legal, competent, charismatics

Org. Structure Symbols

Persuasion-socialization, rational, manipulative

Procedure, rules

Power resources- material, social, knowledge

Traditions

2nd Dimension- Mobilization of Bias

• Implicit power.• Few or none of the actors may realize the

power is being exercised.• Bias limits the participation of certain groups

or restricts issues that can be raised for debate.

• Types- parental involvement, minority children, women

ACTIVITY

• News Story for Analysis- Union takes up tenure fight.

• P. 49-50

3rd Dimension Shaping of Consciousness

• Social institutions shape consciousness– Family – Mass media

• Unusual disempowerment– Apathy leads to laying blame with the victims.

Analyzing Power Relationships

• PRINCE analysis– Issue statement examples• Appropriate- Pass a bond issue to build a middle school

next year.• Inappropriate- More funding for schools.

• Appropriate-Defeat HB128 to limit choice of textbooks.• Inappropriate- Keep legislators out of textbook

selection.

– See page- 40-44

Activity

• Read Case Study- page 48-49• Do PRINCE ANALYSIS for this case.

Ethical IssuesPower as a Means and End

• Individual Means- to achieve a personal goal.• Individual End- to achieve a sense of

importance.• Means for a Group- to advance the goals of a

group.• End for a Group- to enhance power because

the group likes being influential.

Activity

• Do a PRINCE Analysis of an issue in your district.