Education historian Diane Ravitch’s forthcoming book already has an eager audience in a national teachers union and the city’s former public advocate.
The American Federation of Teachers and former public advocate Betsey Gotbaum have sent out separate invitations for events feting Ravitch’s latest work, “The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education.” The book, which comes out in early March, is critical of Chancellor Joel Klein’s support for school choice and an accountability system based on students’ test scores. Ravitch read an excerpt from the book at GothamSchools’ party.
Gotbaum’s event is billed as an apartment book party, while the AFT’s event (they’re not on the same day) is being held in Washington DC. AFT President Randi Weingarten is