Diane Ravitch's blog
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH ALL WEEK LONG
DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG
Deconstructing the “Reform” Narrative: Part 2
A reader who calls himself or herself “Democracy” sent in a three-part commentary, posted a couple weeks back in the Comments. This is part 2. “Democracy” writes: There’s no nuance, or explanation, in Lawrence’s piece. None whatsoever. She says nothing about the pernicious effects of poverty, which affect (primarily) minority students ins the U.S. She states simply that “These shortcomings take th
Norm Scott Reviews “Reign of Error”
Norm Scott is the quintessential education activist. He is a retired teacher with many years of classroom experience in tough schools. He brooks no nonsense. In this review of Reign of Error, he asks the question: What is wrong with preaching to the choir? He is right. When everyone else–the media, the pundits, the big foundations, the politicians–are agreed that the choir stinks, even though the
Democracy: Deconstructing the “Reformer” Narrative
A reader who calls himself or herself has written an interesting series of comments on the current attacks on public education and their sources. Here is Part 1: Robert Samuelson’s column is a prime example of poor-quality economics reporting. I wrote previously on this blog about about the sorry state of education reporting in the U.S. See: http://dianeravitch.net/2013/08/31/david-coleman-the-m
YESTERDAY
Nancy Flanagan Reviews “Reign of Error”
Nancy Flanagan has written a fine analysis of “Reign of Error.” She says that this is a book for teachers, school leaders, and parents. “For them, it’s a sourcebook of key issues, solid evidence and confirmation that yes, there’s been a media-fed, policy-driven, politically instigated sea change in public perspectives around education. Plus–there’s a template for the kinds of smart investment tha
Thanks! Here is My Post on “Education Nation”
A reader sent me the post I wrote earlier today about “Education Nation.” After it was posted and several people tweeted it, it disappeared. I was not aware that it disappeared until someone wrote to ask why I had taken it down. Of course, I had not taken it down. But when I googled it, I got a blank 404 message–”page not found.” It was gone. But it is hard to kill a post that has been sent to tho
New York City’s Leading Private Schools Drop Entry Test
For many years, young children applying to enter elite private schools in New York City had to take the ERB, which was supposed to be like an SAT for toddlers. Now these schools have decided to drop the ERB as an admission test because of the pervasiveness of test prep. According to a story in today’s New York Times: Next year, the test, commonly known as the E.R.B., is likely to be dropped as an
Income Inequality and School Reform
It is not often that you see a juxtaposition between these two concepts: income inequality and school reform. But I would like to argue here that they are related and they matter. In a recent column, Paul Krugman reviews the evidence about income inequality. The rich have grown dramatically richer, while the poor have gained nothing from the economic recovery. Here are the basic facts, as he descr
Arthur Goldstein: Beware the Middle of the Road!
Earlier this week, I was interviewed on NPR’s “On Point.” In the second part of the hour, the show brought on some young woman whose name I can’t remember. They said she used to work for Michelle Rhee and that she worked (or used to work) for Rhee’s TNTP (the New Teacher Project). I recall that her big complaint was that I failed to find common ground with corporate reformers. She said she had int
I Will Not Be Part of Education Nation
Yesterday I received an invitation to sit in the audience at NBC’s Education Nation. I regret to say that I will decline, as I am very busy these days. In case you want to know who will be speaking, here is the lineup (http://www.cvent.com/events/2013-nbc-news-education-nation-summit/event-summary-b8182761914b46f69bbb049effaa997b.aspx?i=c201d015-c428-4eae-a71b-b9db619fb3c5). You will see some fami
Alaska: Can We Avoid the Mistakes of the Other States?
Alaska school board member David Cheezem hopes that Alaska can avoid the costly mistakes that other states are making. He writes: “Preparing young people for the future was never easy, but it’s harder today than ever before. We really don’t know what future to prepare them for — what job opportunities they’ll have, what skills they’ll need. All the same, supporting public education has never been
Merrow Vs. Schneider on New Orleans and Rhee
This is a fascinating exchange between John Merrow and Mercedes Schneider. Merrow, a PBS correspondent, explains his independence from his funders. Here are my two cents. Merrow is the only mainstream journalist to pursue the cheating scandal in D.C., and he took a lot of criticism from rightwing bloggers and other admirers of Rhee’s slash-and-burn tactics. I admire him for his courage and integr
Bloomberg’s Board Racing to Give Away More Public Space
Time is running out on the Bloomberg administration, so his compliant board will vote at its next meeting in October on a record giveaway of public school space to privately managed charters. The panel, which has a majority of members appointed by the mayor, will consider more than 40 proposals for co-locating schools at two meetings next month. More than 30 of these plans are for new schools. Com
Sacramento: TFA Kids Staff Charter Schools
No surprise: Sacramento gets new charter schools staffed by inexperienced Teach for America recruits, non-union, of course. Michelle Rhee’s husband is mayor of Sacramento. How many would choose a doctor or lawyer with five weeks of training? Raise your hand. Lots of money from the anti-union Walton Family Foundation, as well as Gates and Broad. Maybe the foundations think that it’s good enough
Brooklyn Event: A Conversation with Me and David Denby
I will be speaking about “Reign of Error” at Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope, Brooklyn, on October 8, in conversation with New Yorker writer David Denby. This is part of a book series called “Brooklyn by the Book.” Admission is free but reservations are suggested.
Arthur Goldstein Reviews “Reign of Error” at HuffPost
Arthur Goldstein has taught in New York City public schools for almost thirty years. He has been trying to figure when and how teachers and public schools became objects of scorn rather than respect. He found it in “Reign of Error.” He writes: In Reign of Error, Ravitch demonstrates how, by ignoring poverty, America has managed to shift blame to public schools for its consequences. That’s clear wh
Arthur Goldstein Reviews “Reign of Error” for HuffPost
Arthur Goldstein has taught in New York City public schools for almost thirty years. He has been trying to figure when and how teachers and public schools became objects of scorn rather than respect. He found it in “Reign of Error.” He writes: In Reign of Error, Ravitch demonstrates how, by ignoring poverty, America has managed to shift blame to public schools for its consequences. That’s clear wh
Bobby Jindal’s Voucher Hoax
When the U.S. Department of Justice filed suit against Louisiana’s voucher program, on grounds that it threatened to undermine court-ordered desegregation, Jindal went on a well-publicized rant against the DOJ, claiming politics. Suddenly, Jindal presented himself as a leader of he civil rights movement, trying to save poor black kids from failing public schools. His op-eds appeared in the Washing
Stephen Dyer on “Reign of Error”
Stephen Dyer is a former legislator in Ohio who now works for a public policy organization called Innovation Ohio. In my book, I drew on some of his research. In this post, he situates my work in a longstanding American tradition. I especially liked these lines: “As I read the book, I couldn’t help but think of what Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in 1835 — that America’s commitment to education for a
SEP 19
FAIRTEST: Pearson’s History of Test Foul Ups
FAIRTEST has warned about the misuse of standardized testing for years. As an organization, it serves an invaluable purpose and exists on a shoe string. It should be funded by Gates, Broad, and Walton. Instead it is funded by you. Here is FAIRTEST’s chronology of Pearson’s testing errors over the years. PEARSON’S HISTORY OF TESTING PROBLEMS compiled by Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director Fair
Is the Bridgeport Election the Beginning of the End for Corporate Reform?
[Forgive the posting of the headline with no text. I am at NY1, our local all-news station. No sooner did I put in the headline when I was called in to be interviewed by Sam Roberts of the New York Times. I closed my iPad, and the blank post flew into cyberspace. ] The Atlantic has a comprehensive article about the education wars in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Democratic machine was shocked by t
Does the Bridgeport Election Signal the Beginning of the End for Corporate Reform?
[Forgive the posting of the headline with no text. I am at NY1, our local all-news station. No sooner did I put in the headline when I was called in to be interviewed by Sam Roberts of the New York Times. I closed my iPad, and the blank post flew into cyberspace. ] The Atlantic has a comprehensive article about the education wars in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Democratic machine was shocked by t
Bloomberg Administration Plans to Scrub Emails
A whistleblower inside the DOE in New York City told me the Bloomberg administration plans to eliminate all emails. I assumed they were reacting to the Indiana scandal, where Tony Bennett’s emails showed that he engaged in grade-fixing and assembling lists of campaign donors. Maybe yes, maybe no. But what we learn from this story is that the Bloomberg administration plans to delete emails in many
Why Does Congressman Jared Polis Call Me “Evil”?
In a series of Twitter posts last night, Congressman Jared Polis of Colorado called me “an evil woman.” He said that my ideas were harming public education. This is puzzling. What do I do that makes the rich and powerful fume and blow their cool? I have met him twice in DC. The first time, I met with members of the House Education Committee and described my last book, The Death and Life of the Gre
Yinzercation: Our Pep Rally in Pittsburgh
Jessie Ramey, who writes Yinzercation, and Kipp Dawson, a union activist and teacher in the Pittsburgh public schools, invited me to come to their city. I had my first event there, and it was sensational! I will let Jessie describe it. Let me add that I especially wanted to meet Kipp, because I learned that she worked as a coal miner for more than a decade. I imagined a burly woman, but she turned
Teacher Tom with Link Added!
When I posted a great piece by preschool Teacher Tom of Seattle, I forgot the link. It is added here, so I am re-posting. This is a mistake I occasionally make (no excuses!), so I want to rectify it so you can visit his great site and read the whole post, not just my excerpts.
NYC Whistle Blower: How the DOE Is Like Enron
I know a mole inside the New York City Department of Education. He/she knows how the DOE manipulates data to burnish the mayor’s image. This is a good reason to oppose mayoral control of the schools. He/she says the mayor’s small schools close with regularity; that the data cannot be trusted; that the Department has shown preference to charter schools but they got lower scores on the Common Core t
Bruce Baker: How to Eliminate Accountability and Transparency While Claiming the Opposite
Bruce Baker of Rutgers University here dissects the fundamental flaws at the heart of the corporate reform agenda. This is the set of policy prescriptions that he reviews: What I have found most intriguing over time is that the central messaging of these reformy template policy prescriptions is that they will necessarily improve accountability and transparency of education systems, and that they w
Teacher Tom Reviews “Reign of Error”: Link Added!
Teacher Tom teaches pre-school children in Seattle. He is also a writer and artist. Here he wonders why the leaders of the so-called reform movement insist on doing things that never work, like merit pay, or doubling down on truly bad ideas. He writes: “Listen, I don’t know why smart people like Bill Gates (Microsoft), Arne Duncan (US Secretary of Education), and Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation)
SEP 18
A Last-Minute Bad Idea from NYC Department of Education
In its ongoing effort to destroy neighborhood schools and communities, the NYC brought out a plan to centralize kindergarten admissions. This paren activist says it is time to fight back now: “Last week, the DOE announced the roll-out of a new $800,000 kindergarten admissions process, known as Kindergarten Connect. “Kindergarten Connect, like the centralized system currently used for high school a
Walton Foundation Hires Bloomberg Deputy
With the likely election of Democrat Bill de Blasio as mayor of Néw York City, the educrats at Bloomberg’s Department of Education are updating their resumes and starting to pack their bags. First to jump ship is Deputy Chancellor Marc Sternberg, who is moving to Arkansas to help the Walton Family Foundation in its quest to replace public schools with vouchers and charter schools. This article, wr
Jersey Jazzman Reviews “Reign of Error”
Jersey Jazzman connects the dots in his review of “Reign of Error.” He sees the connection between school and society. He writes: “There is one chapter in this part of the book that caught me by surprise: “The Toxic Mix,” as frank a discussion of race, inequality, and segregation as I have read in some time. Ravitch’s candor stands in stark contrast to the bromides of the corporate reformers, who
My Interview on NPR’s “On Point” Today
I had an online interview today on the national broadcast, NPR’s “On Point.” We had a very good discussion about the state of American education, the false claims of failure, and the solutions I proffer. We were then joined by a young woman whose name I don’t recall who used to work for Michelle Rhee’s The New Teacher Project (TNTP). She went into the familiar “attack the messenger” mode, saying t
I Am Proud of My Alma Mater
I had the good fortune to go to Wellesley College after spending all my K-12 days in the public schools of Houston, Texas. I am a graduate of the class of 1960. I have never been prouder to be a Wellesley alumna than today when I learned that 40% of the faculty signed a petition to dissolve a partnership with Peking University if it fires a courageous professor who supports human rights. I will be
How For-Profit Prisons Rip Off The Public
Media Advisory: September 19, 2013 Contact: Richard Allen Smith / rasmith@inthepublicinterest.org / (202) 327-8435 ** MEDIA ADVISORY ** New Report: Shocking 65 PERCENT of For-Profit Prison Contracts Include “Lockup Quotas” and “Low-Crime Taxes” to Guarantee Profits In the Public Interest report will expose contract language guaranteeing 80-100 percent prison occupancy and forcing taxpayers to pa
Will Rhode Island Teachers Endorse the Mayor Who Fired Every Providence Teacher?
The teachers of Rhode Island are in a jam. Incumbent Governor Lincoln Chafee is retiring. The Democratic primary pits state treasurer Gina Raimondo against Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. Teachers can’t forgive Raimondo for her role in cutting their pension benefits. It appears they may endorse Taveras even though he pink-slipped every teacher in Providence (and rehired them all), admires the n
Exciting News for My Lecture at Northridge on October 2!
I just received conformation that Matt Damon will introduce me when I speak at California State University at Northridge on October 2. Wow!
Charter Schools in Ohio: No Accountability
The latest reports from the Ohio Departmrnt of Education show that charter schools do no better–and often considerably worse–than public schools. Many are operated for-profit, but don’t admit it when they use public funds to market their wares. Here is a report from Bill Phillis, who worked in the Ohio Department of Education. He offers an article by Denis Smith, who was responsible for monitoring
Deborah Meier Reviews “Reign of Error”
Many years ago, Deborah Meier and I used to be antagonists. She was a progressive and I was a conservative. But in 2004 or 2005, we started blogging together, exchanging posts each week in which we practiced “Bridging Differences.” She (and events) turned me around. I have often said, half in jest, that anyone who spends five years blogging with Debbie Meier will eventually be converted. I was th
G.F. Brandenburg Reviews “Reign of Error”
G.F. Brandenburg is a retired math teacher who taught in the DC public schools for many years. He also has a star turn in “Reign of Error.” Here is his review And here is part 2. He writes: “This book gratifies me because it lays out in a concise and organized manner much of what I and a number of other education bloggers have been trying to point out for the last four or five years. Ravitch’s cle
Mayoral Race in Boston: A Champion of Public Education!
One candidate in the crowded field running for mayor in Boston has emerged as a clear-headed supporter of public schools: Rob Consalvo. His statement outlining his plans to support the children in Boston’s schools is coherent, thoughtful, and realistic. Consalvo has taken a principled stand against outside money in the campaign from groups like Stand for Children and DFER, and set an example tha
EduShyster Reviews “Reign of Error”
EduShyster is typically hilarious and arch. In this review, the only funny part is when she tells the tale of being required to entertain me for two hours in 2010 while pretending she had read my latest book. In this review, she shows that she read “Reign of Error” carefully. She actually devoured it in less than two days, then overnight ed it to her sister, an elementary school teacher. She wri
SEP 17
Jose Vilson Reviews “Reign of Error”
Jose Vilson wins the prize for the best, most original title of a review of “Reign of Error.” Sort of like that phone company where the guy moves to a new spot and says “Can you hear me now?” Only the language is saltier. Jose knows I curse in private, not in public. Or it might be “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore!” Did you hear me now?
Steve Strieker Reviews “Reign of Error”
Steve Streiker is a teacher and a proud union member who lives in Janesville, Wisconsin. He has felt the brunt of “reform,” where teachers, unions, and public education are the targets. Here is his review of “Reign of Error.” He writes: “Today, Ravitch’s much-anticipated new book, Reign of Error, hits Kindles, Nooks, mailboxes, libraries, schools, and bookstores across the country. While the titl
Paul Thomas Reviews “Reign of Error”
Paul Thomas reviews “Reign of Error” in the context of what he calls Ravitch 1.0, Ravitch 2.0, and now Ravitch 3.0. He connects it to earlier works: “The first twenty chapters of Reign continues a tradition of other important, but too often ignored by politicians and the media, works confronting the false narratives perpetuated about U.S. public education—The Manufactured Crisis: Myths, Fraud, An
Nicholas Tampio Reviews “Reign of Error”
NicholasTampio, a political science professor at Fordham University, asks: “How did parents lose the right to educate our own children or, at least, have a meaningful role to play in our school districts? How can we reclaim this right? “Enter Diane Ravitch, America’s foremost historian and theorist of education policy. In her new book, Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and th
Jason Stanford: When California and Texas Agree But Arne Duncan Says No
Jason Stanford has written a brilliant analysis of the efforts by state officials in Texas and California to cut back on unnecessary testing, and of Secretary Duncan’s rejection of both requests. Just in terms of federalism, this situation shows how Washington has now taken control out of the hands of the states, which can no longer decide what is best for their students, even though they put up 9
Class Size in L.A.: Out of Control?
A comment on the blog: I’m an LAUSD middle school art teacher with class sizes reduced to 31, 32, 39, 44, 45 and 48. That averages almost 40/class. AVERAGE doesn’t make sense! With 48 students in a 50 minute class I have no time to actually help students. More students means more time on attendance, more time passing out and collecting supplies (for which I have no budget.) My class of 45 has a sp
K12 Gets Hefty Profit to Run Newark Virtual Charter School
Thank goodness for reporters like Jessica Califati of the Star-Ledger in New Jersey! In this report, she shows how the for-profit K12 corporation has a sweet deal running the Newark Prep Charter School. With only 150 students, the school is paying K12 nearly $500,000 in taxpayer dollars for its services. The deal is very favorable to K12. If the school wants to cancel the contract, it must give 1
Ralph Ratto Reviews “Reign of Error”
Ralph Ratto teaches elementary school. In this review of “Reign of Error,” he writes: “Ravitch provides the proof, that our schools are not failing, the achievement gap is closing, we are not falling behind other nations, high school and graduation rates are at all time highs, poverty is being ignored, test scores are not the way to evaluate teachers, merit pay is a failure, and the importance of
What Will It Mean If Four TFA Alums Are Elected to Atlanta School Board?
I posted before that four TFA alums are running for the Atlanta school board. This seems to be the TFA long-term plan, as Wendy Kopp has often stated: to build a cadre of leaders with a strong network of funders across the nation. We know what this has meant in Louisiana, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, where TFA-trained leaders have fought for privatization, high-stakes
Richard Rothstein Corrects Joel Klein’s Erroneous Claims About American Education
In an article in the New York Times magazine, Joel Klein asserted that his company’s products were needed because spending on education had doubled in recent decades had doubled but achievement remained flat. This assertion was wrong but went unchallenged. In this article, Richard Rothstein of the Economic Policy Institute sets the record straight.
EduSanity Writes Secretary Duncan: Please Read “Reign of Error”
The blogger EduSanity has written an open letter to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, urging him to read “Reign of Error.” In the interests of finding common ground, as Sam Chsltain has urged, Secretary Duncan should take a few hours and learn what is in my book. We know very well what Secretary Duncan says and believes. It is reported regularly in the national media. True dialogue requires a
Mother Crusader Reviews “Reign of Error”
Darcie Cimarusti, aka Mother Crusader, reviewed “Reign of Error” for public radio WHYY. She explains how she got involved in the battle to save her community public schools: It wasn’t long ago that I had never heard of Diane Ravitch. I had kids in New Jersey public schools, a teacher husband, and even worked a brief stint in the for-profit education world as the Director of two different Sylvan
David B. Cohen Reviews “Reign of Error”
David B. Cohen is a high school teacher in Palo Alto and a leader of “Accomplished California Teachers.” He describes his reactions to the book and concludes: “In exposing the hoaxes and offering solutions, Diane Ravitch’s Reign of Error is on solid ground, cogent and well-supported, exposing widely divergent views of how to secure a viable future for kids and schools. For the past decade or more
Peg Robertson Reviews “Reign of Error”
Peg Robertson is a busy teacher, mom of two active boys, and a leader of the national Opt Out movement. Yet she made time to read Reign of Error. She reports that she appreciates that it is written without academic jargon. The chapters are short. The points are well documented. Every teacher and parent will find useful information to help support their public school. She writes: “As an activist I
Today Is the Day: “Reign of Error” Is Available!
Maybe you have not been anticipating this day as much as I have. But I can tell you as an author that waiting for “pub date” is excruciating. It seems like forever between the time you make the final edit and the actual appearance of the book. I finished about June 1. And now, three and a half months later, it is here. Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and The Danger to Americ
SEP 16
Lessons from Pittsburgh
I had a wonderful inaugural event in my book tour in Pittsburgh. It was organized by parent activist Jessie Ramey, who writes the blog Yinzercation, and union activist Kipp Dawson. It was co-sponsored by seven local universities, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, and a galaxy of educational justice groups, including GPS (Great Pittsburgh Schools). The audience included many elected officials
Eli Broad on Philanthropy
This article appeared in the Wall Street Journal. Many educators know Eli Broad mainly through the superintendents trained by his institute to view public education as a business: they shut down struggling public schools and replace them with privately managed charter schools. But here is Eli Broad, lover of the arts, worried about the disappearing middle class: WEEKEND CONFIDENTIAL September 13,
Why Are the 1% Getting Richer?
As states cut the budget for public schools, lay off teachers, increase class sizes, fire librarians and social workers, guidance counselors and teacher aides, we hear the same refrain: Sorry, the money’s all gone. But is it? Read this article and you will find where the money went.
Photo-Essay on the First Day of School in Chicago
A Korean camera crew showed this photo-essay to me. I think they had a hard time understanding the number of police officers that created “safe passage” for students on their way to school in Chicago. They came to interview me about how money affects the politics of education in the United States. The producer had a copy of The Death and Life of the Great American School System, translated into Ko
Alfie Kohn: Encouraging Educator Courage
Alfie Kohn has a terrific article in Education Week with the title above. It is behind a pay wall and I can’t repost it in full, lest I get an angry scolding from Edweek. But here are a few good excerpts: “It pains me to say this, but professionals in our field often seem content to work within the constraints of traditional policies and accepted assumptions-even when they don’t make sense. Conve
A Beautiful Letter to Educators from the Mother of a Sandy Hook Victim: “Love Them All”
This letter is a moving tribute to everyone who works in schools every day to care for, nurture, and educate children. It was written by Nebia Marquez-Greenhad, who lost one of her two children in the Sandy Hook massacre last December. Her daughter Ana Grace died, her son survived. In this letter, she thanks all of those who dedicate their lives to education. Since teachers, principals, social wor
Jan Resseger Reviews “Reign of Error”
Jan Resseger, previously selected as a hero of public education, lives in Ohio, where she has seen the pernicious effects of dire poverty, privatization, and profiteers who make generous campaign contributions to politicians who protect their faltering privately-managed schools. Here is her review of “Reign of Error.” She writes: “My personal favorite chapter on first-reading the book is “Troubl
Michael Paul Goldenberg: Time to Repel the “Ravitch Hawks”
Michael Paul Goldenberg decries the critics who think I am impolite, shrill, shrieking, noisy–and he notes, I am none of those things. The problem, he says, is that I disagree with the critics, and they are not used to that. If I were a man, they might use other adjectives. How familiar it is to hear powerful men complaining about a woman, a grey-haired woman at that, who doesn’t know her place. W
Oops! Bennett Left GOP Fundraising Lists on DOE Computers
Former State Superintendent Tony Bennett left detailed fundraising lists on Department of Education computers. Whether he broke the law or was merely careless is under investigation. Meanwhile, the files are public due to a Freedom of Information request by reporter Tom LoBianco of the Associated Press.
Mercedes Schneider Reviews “Reign of Error”
This review by Mercedes Schneider was written with teachers in mind, because Mercedes is a high school teacher in Louisiana. She writes with her usual spunk and verve. Spoiler alert: She likes the book. Read her penultimate paragraph and laugh out loud
United Opt Out Will Sponsor Book Club Discussion of “Reign of Error”
Three years ago, when my last book was published, I heard from a professor in Pennsylvania named Tim Slekar who asked if I would join the opt-out movement. I told him no. I thought it was too extreme. I don’t think so anymore. Testing has become extreme. It is now the driving force in education. The only way to make it stop is to stop cooperating with those who see children as data. I support thos
Anthony Cody Reviews “Reign of Error”
Anthony Cody, one of America’s best teacher-bloggers, reviews “Reign of Error.” He ably summarizes the major ideas in the book and refutes the claim that I “paint with too broad a brush.” And he concludes: “Educators feel that Diane Ravitch speaks for us in a way that few others do. That is clearest when she writes this, in bringing her book to a close: Genuine school reform must be built on hop
SEP 15
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
EduShyster Explains the New York Times’ Infatuation with “Excellence”
Want to know why the New York Times writes puff piece after puff piece about Teach for America and miraculous charter schools where everyone succeeds? EduShyster explains it all for you. Excellence loves excellence.
An Excerpt of “Reign of Error” in Salon and a Vitriolic Attack in the NY Post
Salon printed today a lengthy excerpt from “Reign of Error.” Enjoy. On the other hand, Rupert Murdoch’s New York Post printed a very strongly worded attack on me personally and on the book, calling its arguments “ridiculous.” Blogger Perdido Street School describes the article in the New York Post in this way: The writer “accuses Ravitch of making stuff up, ignoring scientific evidence, being a ha
Teacher Education in Finland
Finland is generally recognized as one of the world’s highest performing nations. Over the past decade, Finnish students have been high performers on the international PISA exams. In Finnish schools, students never take a standardized test. How is their progress assessed? By their teachers. Finnish educators say that the key to their success is the high quality of their teachers. Not just a star h
Los Angeles: Deasy’s Top Deputy Quits
Jaime 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 reform bloc controlled by Eli Broad. Board members expressed dismay about his departure and praised him f
Los Angeles: Will There Be an Investigation of the Misuse of Bond Funds?
This article asks: “LAUSD iPad Deal: iPaid Too Much?” Is it legal to use voter-approved construction bonds with a 25-year or 30-year paydown period to buy devices that will be obsolete in 3-4 years? Isn’t this a misdirection and misuse of what was approved by the voters? Were voters misled? Would they have approved a $1 billion tax to pay for iPads? Surely there must be a city or state official wi
SEP 14
This Post Is for Brian Crosby
Brian Crosby is an inspiring elementary school teacher. He has been teaching in upper elementary grades for 30 years. He is a STEM teacher in Nevada. After he read Sharon Higgins’ post, he chided me for seeming to diminish the importance of STEM subjects. I assured him that this was not my purpose, and I am sure it was not Sharon Higgins’ either. Her point was that the “crisis” has been vastly ove
G.F. Brandenburg: The Rules of Rhee’s Teacher Town Halls
As you may know, Michelle Rhee is holding three “teacher town halls” in which she and Steve Perry and George Parker talk to an audience who are allowed to submit questions. George Parker was previously the head of the D.C. teachers union; he now works for Rhee. Steve Perry, once a commentator for CNN, runs a magnet school in Hartford. Earlier this year in Minnesota, he spoke at a public forum and
Sharon Higgins: What STEM Crisis?
Sharon R. Higgins, an Oakland parent and blogger, questions whether there is a STEM cris and offers documentation for her views. She writes: The STEM alarm is definitely a manufactured crisis. 1. “As the push to train more young people in STEM — science, technology, engineering and math — careers gains steam, a few prominent skeptics are warning that it may be misguided — and that rhetoric about t
Los Angeles Teacher: Some Pesky Questions About the iPad Giveaway
This teacher blogger, Rene Dietrich, addresses an open letter to Apple about the iPads for all students in the district. Such questions as whether they are configured to block inappropriate content; whether Apple will offer training and tech support to teachers; whether they can be used without access to the Internet; whether there is any way to disable them if stolen; and many more. These are th
Metro Nashville Teachers Vote No Confidence in Huffman
Metro Nashville teachers passed a vote of no confidence in State Commissioner Kevin Huffman. The article doesn’t say how many teachers voted or what percent oppose Huffman. Presumably, these figures will emerge. The vote by the teachers comes on the heels of a letter by nearly half the state’s superintendents criticizing Huffman’s top-down style.
Art Teacher: Just Say “No” to Teaching to the Test
A retired teacher is happy that parents are opting their children out of state testing She writes: “I am a former elementary art teacher and I am thrilled parents are taking matters into their own hands. The testing culture is madness. I had to sit in too many staff meetings, and watch as the administrators devote all professional development time to students passing the standardized tests. It did
Common Sense and Common Core: One of the Best Posts Ever
Red Queen in LA writes a snappy and irreverent blog. This post is her best ever, or at least the best I have read. In it, she decimates the decision by Los Angeles school officials to spend $500 million on iPads–using money from bonds that will be paid off in 25 years–and another $500 million to upgrade the schools for Internet connectivity, plus $38 million for keyboards, plus untold millions for
Amanda Ripley Vs. Joel Klein
In the article in Sunday’s New York Times magazine about the introduction of Joel Klein/Rupert Murdoch’s Amplify tablet, Klein asserts that those who oppose his views on technology are ideological, not evidence-based. Klein asserts that we can’t hope to compete with Korea and other nations with high test scores unless we put kids on his tablets. But here is a contrary view, forwarded to me by Will
Klein’s Amplify Tablets Crack the $17 Billion Market
The New York Times magazine has a long article by Carlo Rotella about the first trial of the Amplify tablet in the schools of Guilford County, North Carolina. Amplify is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation and run by Joel Klein, the former chancellor of the NewYork City public schools. Klein is certain that public education in America is a disaster and the only things that can save it are d
Atlanta Journal Constitution: Testing Errors Widespread
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reporter Heather Vogell conducted a two-year investigation of standardized testing and discovered many errors in them. Yet with all these errors, the test scores are being used and misused to make life-changing decisions about students, teachers, principals, and schools. Standardized tests are a weak reed on which to base a decision for firing staff and closing sch
Troubled Charter Chain Plans to Open Three Schools in North Carolina
A charter chain that has run into legal problems in Philadelphia and Chicago plans to open three schools in North Carolina. Lindsay Wagner of the NC Policy Watch writes in the “Progrssive Pulse”: “The NC Department of Public Instruction received 171 letters of intent last week from charter school operators keen on opening up new schools in time for fall of 2015 — the highest ever received since la
