Changing the Poisonous Narrative
Since the publication of my book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, I have traveled the nation, talking to many thousands of teachers, administrators, parents, researchers, and other members of the public about the future of public education. I explain that the current "reform" program has no evidence behind it; its failed ideas are harming students and the quality of education.
In the current climate of hostility to teachers and public schools, educators are hungry for affirmation. The general public resists privatization and understands intuitively that our democracy depends on good public schools.
Teachers are deeply demoralized. Many have told me they will retire early. The "reformers" blame teachers for low test scores. To "reformers," nothing else matters--not parents, not poverty, not student effort--just teachers. "Reformers" believe that "bad teachers" are entirely responsible for student test scores. They like to say that "three great teachers in a row closes the achievement gap," but they never identify a school or district where this has actually happened.
In state after state, a small number of incredibly wealthy people with no connection to the public schools are supporting