Reporting because I forgot the link!
Peter DeWitt is an outstanding elementary school principal in upstate New York. He has established a reputation as a dedicated and kind person who cares about the social and emotional health of his students, as much as (perhaps even more than) their test scores. He also happens to be a man of great integrity and courage.
In this post, he reviews Reign of Error.
He writes:
In Reign of Error, Diane begins by focusing on the misinformation that is provided by “Reformers” when it comes to corporate reform, graduation rates, and the “failures” of the public school system. She takes on her critics like Michelle Rhee (StudentsFirst) and Teach for America. In addition, she provides a much more holistic view of charter schools; how they began and where they are now.
Diane doesn’t focus solely on what is wrong with Corporate Reform, she also explains what we need to do differently to make the teaching profession stronger. Yes, Diane Ravitch believes we have room for improvement. She understands, as a historian and professor, we all need to strive for continuous improvement. She just doesn’t believe you have to brow beat people to get there.
And he adds:
Too often the educational conversation is controlled by those with the most money. Teachers, principals, students and parents may not believe they can compete with the power and money that is controlling public education, but with Diane’s voice they certainly have a better chance than they think.
Thank you, Peter. Education policy should be in the hands of those who are tasked with implementing it and those who have spent years teaching children. The current model of top-down mandates from the U.S. Department of Education and Congress is harming children, teachers, and schools.
We are citizens. We must stand up for what is right, not for what is expedient.
I post this as my tribute to teachers for the day — I fell asleep at my desk this morning. Now that’s something teachers cannot do.
“. . . to strive for continuous improvement.”
I hate that concept! Reeks of hubristic control by those who don’t know.
“‘. . . to strive for continuous improvement.’
“I hate that concept! Reeks of hubristic control by those who don’t know.”
Yep, I hate it, too. The pursuit of “continuous improvement” was behind what drove Atlanta Public Schools into its massively systemic standardized test cheating mess.
The proper and appropriate concept is “continual improvment.”
Continual improvement depends on learning.
Continuous improvement depends on luck and wishful thinking and when those don’t do the job, carrots-and-sticks usually will.
Peter, I’m so glad you are on our side. You have an eloquent way of delivering the hard truth. We teachers are suffering in so many ways, it’s great to have a respected, published, experienced, and knowledgable administrator in our corner to bring our points to the public. We teachers are scapegoats for power hungry, misguided politicians and I feel lucky to have you and Diane fighting for us. Thank you, both, for all of your work.