Anthony Cody - A Teacher Challenges the Gates Foundation

Anthony Cody discusses his journey from teaching to advocating for education reform. He critiques the impact of corporate reform, particularly No Child Left Behind, on public schools. Cody highlights the role of media and the Gates Foundation in shaping negative narratives about public education. He argues against the over-reliance on standardized testing and the Common Core, advocating for a reevaluation of educational priorities. Cody calls for recognition of the threats to public schools and urges a shift away from test-centric education.

What is Anthony Cody's current focus in his semi-retirement?

• Developing new educational technologies

• Conducting workshops on project-based learning

• Writing textbooks for schools

• Teaching in a private school

What was one of the major effects of the No Child Left Behind Act according to Cody?

• Reduction in standardized testing

• Improved teacher salaries

• Labeling many schools as failures

• Increased funding for public schools

Which organization did Cody identify as a major funder of narratives against public schools?

• The Rockefeller Foundation

• The Ford Foundation

• The Gates Foundation

• The Walton Family Foundation

What was Cody's main critique of the Gates Foundation's approach to education?

• They do not fund enough research

• They focus too much on teacher training

• They ignore the importance of technology in classrooms

• They attempt to quantify learning as a commodity

What does Cody argue is a fundamental problem with standardized testing?

• It is only used in private schools

• It is not challenging enough for students

• It fails to measure many aspects of learning

• It is too expensive for schools

What does Cody suggest about the promises of new accountability systems?

• They are likely to be worse than current systems

• They will definitely improve education

• They will reduce the need for standardized tests

• They will increase teacher autonomy

What book did Cody write to challenge the Gates Foundation?

• Education in the 21st Century

• Learning Beyond Tests

• The Teacher's Guide to Reform

• The Educator and the Oligarch