The Rise of the Unqualified: Inside the Kakistocracy Running American Education
Kakistrocracy: “government by the least qualified, or the most unscrupulous, or the most self-serving. It’s a system where those likely least suited to lead are nonetheless at the helm, steering institutions not toward justice, equity, or excellence, but toward decay, division, or personal gain.”
This kind of governance runs rampant in our public education system. Education leaders are continually selected based on political loyalty, their adherence to ideological practices instead of evidence, and are focused on appeasing political forces instead of students. Many of our nation’s appointed education decision makers are billionaires, beholden to wealthy interests — not the interests of everyday public school students and families. When we allow this to happen, knowledge is devalued and students of color, queer students, disabled students, and other marginalized students are scapegoated for political gain. The educators who serve our students every day are silenced, and forced to teach curriculum that often erases important histories, science, and the spirit of inquiry.
We cannot allow SFUSD to turn into a full blown “kakistocracy.” Our students and communities must be at the center of discussions about budgeting and school policy, not the egos of those at the top. That’s why San Francisco Education Alliance is advocating to stop school closures, and invest in public education for all SF students. In a city with 50 billionaires (SF) we must be vigilant in ensuring that our public school students are the ones being prioritized — not the interests of wealthy decision makers.
Cloaking Inequity | May 1st, 2025
