97 People Gather at Cleveland Heights, OH High School to Discuss Ravitch Book
Promptly at 7 o’clock last evening, 97 people arrived at the social room of Cleveland Heights High School to discuss Diane Ravitch’s book, Reign of Error. Last evening launched a three part, three week conversation. Parents joined members of the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School Board and Cleveland Heights City Council, school administrators and teachers from Cleveland Heights and surrounding communities, and interested citizens from several communities including young professionals, retirees, and one student from Cleveland Heights High School. Teachers from our public schools served as table facilitators.
After small groups considered questions to summarize the assigned first-night reading, those at the tables thought about what had surprised them or stood out in the chapters assigned. Report-outs evidenced interest in the Orwellian language being used by corporate reformers, the myriad variables that affect the high stakes test scores by which students are judged and teachers evaluated, and the need to support—not punish—public schools in urban areas. “How can we avoid a future where rich children are taught by teachers and poor children by computers?” “Those pushing today’s corporate reforms are not looking for solutions but instead intend to destroy.” “Inequality is the inevitable result of a system based on competition. There will always be losers when there are winners.”
Community sponsors had gathered on several occasions to build interest and plan the conversations. Sponsors are the Cleveland Heights Teachers Union, AFT; the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School Administration; Reaching Heights (a small foundation that assists the work of teachers, provides scholarships for private music lessons and a week-long summer music camp, and supports parents of students with special needs); Future Heights (an