Colorado Teacher: Can We Find Common Ground?
Sam Chaltain, one of our very thoughtful bloggers, urged that we try to find common ground with those who disagree with our views. That is usually sound advice. In the present instance, there are so many who say they want to privatize public education, and whose motives are not disguised, that it is hard to know how to find common ground. I think, for example, of ALEC, the Koch brothers, the gover
Michelle Rhee Tells Philadelphia How to Solve Its Problems
Michelle Rhee penned an article about how to fix the public schools of Philadelphia. She says it is time for performance pay, so that there is “a great teacher” in every classroom. She apparently is unaware that merit pay has been tried for nearly a century and has never worked, not in any district. It causes teaching to the test, narrowing the curriculum, gaming the system, rivalry among colleagu
A Word About Competition and Profits
Some of the discussion today has centered on the issue of competition, control, and profits. New York City has been closing down hospitals that once enjoyed a hefty public subsidy but are now expected to pay for themselves or turn a profit. After these hospitals were turned over to private corporations, the pressure to make a profit brought about the closure of several major hospitals. One of the
Nancy Flanagan: Why All the Snark?
Nancy Flanagan, a retired music teacher in Michigan, NBCT, 30+ years of experience, is one of our best teacher-bloggers. Unlike the pundits who observe the schools from 30,000 feet above ground, Nancy knows whereof she speaks. In this post, she tries to understand what is behind all the snarky comments and previews of my book, which will debut tomorrow. Some people who never read it denounced it.
A Wonderful Review of “Reign of Error” by TeacherKen at the Daily Kos
Please take the time to read Kenneth Bernstein’s fine review of “Reign of Error” at the Daily Kos. TeacherKen, as he is known online, has read the book carefully and taken the time to explain its major themes. I think you will enjoy reading his thoughtful review. I know I will take my lumps for leading the charge against the attacks on public education. I am grateful that those with many years of
Sam Chaltain on “Reign of Error”
Sam Chaltain is one of our most thoughtful bloggers. This is his review of Reign of Error, which appears in his regular column in Education Week. I appreciated his connection of this book to the work of the muckrakers. It is a comparison that I made in my own mind, but kept to myself because I was loathe to be so bold as to associate myself with the bold reformism of such giants as Jacob Riis, Lin
Diane Ravitch: School privatization is a hoax, “reformers” aim to destroy public schools - Salon.com
Diane Ravitch: School privatization is a hoax, “reformers” aim to destroy public schools - Salon.com: Diane Ravitch: School privatization is a hoax, “reformers” aim to destroy public schoolsOur public schools aren't in decline. And "reformers" with wild promises don't care about education — just profitsBY DIANE RAVITCH TOPICS: BOOKS, EDUCATION, EDITOR'S PICKS, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, W
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 9-15-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Los Angeles: Deasy’s Top Deputy QuitsJaime Aquino, the deputy superintendent for instruction in LAUSD, unexpectedly quit his $250,000 a year post, although he plans to stay until the end of the year. The story is that he was disheartened by the change in the board, in which progressive members took control away from the corporate r
