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 two-way conversation. That means that Sectetary Duncan should listen as well as talk and issue mandates.
Without dialogue, common ground is impossible.
How would the Secretary’s policies change if he were to read “Reign of Error”?
Would he recognize that schools “fail” when they are overwhelmed with needy children and lack the resources to give them the help they need?
Would he abandon test-based evaluations of teachers and principals in response to the evidence or lack thereof ?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I suspect that Duncan will read Reign of Error, but I highly doubt it will have much effect. Diane’s message is not the only well-reasoned and well-supported argument for a change of course that has been made within the inner circles at the Dept. of Ed. Duncan serves higher powers – most of whom are identified in Ravitch’s book. It is they who should read it.
O that the stones would grow ears!
This is probably not the most inviting open letter, as it starts off by (accurately) labeling Duncan’s reign of error, but I have to say that their review format is innovative. Perhaps more than anything this will drive many in the public to recommend the book to Duncan, or call for his resignation or firing (which is already happening to some degree).
I’ve been calling Duncan “Obama’s James Watt” for some time now. At least Reagan had the (unusual) good sense to dump Watt near the middle of his first term.
We can only interpret and evaluate evidence and then compare varied policies if there is a common goal. “Reformers” (who are not out to make a profit) may want to reduce or eliminate educational inequity. However, they have become so enamored with their own competition-based solutions that enacting their favored policies has become an end rather than a means. In that context, expansion of charter schools, high-stakes testing, merit -pay and test-based teacher evaluation policies are taken as evidence of success. Adoption of new technologies is lauded irrespective of evidence of its causal relationship to learning. So, I am not optimistic that Secretary Duncan or President Obama will read Reign of Error and change course. Rather, I hope that the public will begin to compare policy alternatives and demand a change in direction.
I discuss those policy alternatives here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arthur-camins/us-education-the-age-of-w_b_3832554.html
… and why I think the President rejects those alternatives here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/09/12/obamas-education-gap-rhetoric-vs-policies/
Never happen. The Obama/Duncan administration is too invested in the education reform movement to admit error and change direction. Best hope is a new administration. Hillary Clinton stated during her 2008 presidential campaign that if elected she would end NCLB and I assume that would also apply to RttT. Bill de Blasio stated during his victorious primary campaign in NYC (for Mayor) he would not allow charters to use space in public schools without paying rent. He won largely as the anti Bloomberg candidate including Bloomberg’s educational policies. Let’s hope this is the beginning of a nationwide trend.
I’m loving the fact that this clever piece was written by two professors at the University of Walmart!
We like it here on the frontlines.
Hope you’ve got a lot of Kevlar!
Duncan may SKIM your book (maybe he will read the title and table of contents only…who knows) consult with others plus use his communications director to thwart the truth. Notice! Read critically both Diane’s newest book and what the DEFORMERS’ SPINS re: this book.
My guess is that he and/or his lackeys will read your book very closely. They’ll be looking for anything they can take out of context, twist a little, and paint you as shrill, hysterical, anti-child, class warfare mongering, or anything else they can smear you with.
Agree.
Yup. I think that that’s pretty much what will happen.
But the smear campaign will be good. Controversy sells books. People read them. And then the truth, once known, can’t be unknown.
don’t count on that sob Duncan reading Diane’s book and having a change of heart
“Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them.” -Assata Shakur
As a ventriloquist’s dummy, Arne has a problem with reading and reasoning.
I think Arne Duncan will read Diane’s book. Privately, he will admit that she is right. Publicly, too much “reform” money has changed hands for him to begin changing course on the doomed RTtT “package”. Sad, really.
Insofar as Communist Teacher’s comment, I ask,”What heart?”
With regard to this post, refer back to KrazyTA’s comment yesterday, on the villainthropist Eli Broad post, “Their minds are already made up, regardless of the evidence.”
And, yes, Metro, Reagan DID get rid of Watt, exhibiting “(unusual) good sense.”
Unfortunately, our current POTUS is all involved in dollars & cents.
In the end, it is up to us, the people, to change all of this Yes, WE can…& we WILL!.
Diane Ravitch had a change of heart on education matters. President Obama had a change of heart on gay marriage. Maybe, just maybe President Obama could “evolve” on this issue? One can always dream? Maybe if enough people sent him a copy of the book he would at least begin the process…..