Existence Isn’t Access
The Illusion of Choice
If you’ve read the about section of The Teacher Tuckshop you know that I am heavily influenced by Diego Rivera’s artwork and love representational art. It is an art medium that, for me, is one of the best ways to make social commentary and start a conversation.
I took that approach to this week’s blog post.
Inspired by what I like to think of illusionary choice, this photo manipulation piece brought over mixed media types to convey that message.
Source : EdReform.com
The special education teacher in me also finds tremendous value in visual representation of complex ideas. Art is a societal manipulative.
The artwork depicts a man and a child walking up to a menu that offers a variety of items, aka choice. However, the child is made to understand that while there are a plethora of options listed and theoretically available, he can only choose two items. This simple scene is intended to shed light on the deceptive nature of school choice and vouchers.
School choice is going to be seen as the answer to desperate people unless something meaningful is done to address the inequity.
True equity in education goes beyond the illusion of choice – it requires addressing systemic barriers and investing in all schools to ensure that every child has access to high-quality education, regardless of their zip code or background. This should not be seen as a pipe dream but it too often is. If there was one part of our society that shouldn’t be offered on the altar of status and competition, it should be how we think about the education we provide 5 year olds. All of them.
I hope that this artwork encourages you to reflect on the importance of advocating for policies that prioritize equitable access to quality education for all.
In the words of Chris Hayes, “If you want a meritocracy you need to start with equality”.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this piece and the themes it explores. Feel free to share your reflections in the comments below.
To get a copy of this 16X20 poster CLICK HERE.
Until next time,
