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 tenure. Ravitch exposes the audacity of Michelle Rhee, charter schools, parent trigger and virtual schools. Ravitch also lays out a clear concise course of action towards the essentials of a good education. Challenging our nation to reverse the reformists aims towards destruction.
“The reformers are already attacking Ravitch’s masterpiece with rhetoric fueled by ad hominem attacks. That’s the first clue, Ravitch has it right. Opinion does not stand up to facts.
“The thousands of educators that follow Ravitch’s blog, will realize that Ravitch has only fed us a daily appetizer with her multiple postings. Reign of Error is the much anticipated main course, served up on a silver platter with all the trimmings.
“This is a must read for all those who value our nation’s most valuable assets, our children and their public schools. Arm yourself with the facts.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Novelist Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton did not, by common consent, write well. But he gave us some memorable quotations. This is one:
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
Well, the Ravitch pen is Damascus steel. Tremble ye plutocrats and profiteers!
Bulwer-Lytton also gave us “It was a dark and stormy night,” of Peanuts fame.
Ravitch’s thought sheds, in these dark times, much-needed light.
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Here’s a direct link to this insightful review: http://rlratto.wordpress.com
As Diane pointed out, corporate reformers (including Rhee), often describe children as “assets.” I would like to suggest that we use a synonym that’s not associated with the business model in education, such as “blessings.”
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Meat and potatoes are a good main course. I am 4th in line at the library and am looking forward to reading it. I don’t hold with reviews-they are just opinions. If people read it and it remains in print is all one needs.
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