The Privatization of Schooling

School Administrator, August, 1997 by William G. Keane

In The Privatization of Schooling: Problems and Possibilities, Joseph Murphy describes the many variation of privatization and explores the historical events both nationally and internationally that gave rise to the current interest in privatizing government services. Murphy has a commitment to comprehensive and balanced scholarship that is abundantly evident in this relatively compact and useful book.

With admirable fairness and ample citations, Murphy examines the claims and counterclaims of those who support or resist further entrance of the private sector into government services, especially education. He touches on some of the hidden issues that sometime cause school districts to mistakenly conclude that a privatization initiative will be cheaper than a district-delivered service.

The final chapter offers an analysis of the criticisms of public education that are encouraging the search for alternative solutions.

(The Privatization of Schooling: Problems and Possibilities, by Joseph Murphy, 1996, 197 pp., $20.50 softcover. Available at a discount from AASA Distribution Center, Stock #754, see above)