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Dr. Diane Ravitch has emerged as a true champion of public education over the past few years. She recently used her blog to explain why she has been such an active supporter of the Save Our Schools March:

I am marching to protest the status quo of high-stakes testing, attacks on the education profession, and creeping privatization.

I want to protest the federal government’s punitive ideas about school reform, specifically, No Child Left Behind and the Race to the Top. Neither of these programs has any validation in research or practice or evidence. The nation’s teachers and parents know that NCLB has been a policy disaster. Race to the Top incorporates the same failed ideas. Why doesn’t Congress know?

I want to protest the wave of school closings caused by these cruel federal policies. Public schools are a public trust, not shoe stores. If they are struggling, they should be improved, not killed.

On Thursday, July 21st, Diane Ravitch will join us on the eve of our march, for our last teach-in and fundraiser. This event will take place at 8 pm Eastern, 5 pm Pacific time. We hope to raise at least $5000 on this one day — watch the web site for updates throughout the day!

Join us for an exciting conversation with the nation’s leading expert on the history of education, and a true champion of our schools.

Registration is free, but space is limited. We will hold ten spaces for people willing to organize house parties of five people or more. Sign up now!.