Diane Ravitch’s Network for Public Education Conference: A Report and Reflections
I spent the weekend in Indianapolis at the fifth annual Network for Public Education Conference, both uplifting and disturbing.
Hundreds of teachers, parents, activists, elected officials, all dedicated supporters of public education sharing stories, both uplifting stories of how small groups of dedicated, caring sophisticated teams of teacher unions, parents and community activists can make a difference and begin to turn the tide, and, in other locations, how the forces of privatization, charter schools, “portfolio” models are unrelenting in their assault on public education.
The weekend alternated between speakers and workshops.
Pasi Stahlberg, a Finnish educator described the worldwide attack on public education, Pasi has dubbed the movement GERM – the Global Education Reform Movement. Watch his presentation here.
Finland should be a model for our nation, at least for states within our nation. The education system in Finland: no standardized tests, local autonomy, well-paid teachers and students at the top of the list on international lists. Yes, Finland is small, 5.5 million in a nation the size of Montana, very few immigrants, income equality, teachers selected from the top 10% of college Continue reading: Diane Ravitch’s Network for Public Education Conference: A Report and Reflections | Ed In The Apple