Joe Bower teaches in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. He blogs
and tweets about education with a singular passion for students and
learning. In this post, he makes some strong statements about
“Reign of Error.” He calls it “The best book on education you can
read today.” He writes: “This book was written to challenge those
who believe in the corporate reform movement. This book was written
for those who are aware of the ills of the corporate reform
movement but need more facts to articulate a sound argument. This
book was written for those who suffer from apathy and cynicism.
This book provides the energy and encouragement we need to provide
schools that all of our children deserve. “The only thing necessary
for destructive mandates and cancerous education policies to
succeed is for good teachers, parents and students to say and do
nothing. When far-off authorities invoke their ignorance with the
force of law, remember that your silence is read as assent — and
at some point your silence is betrayal to those who do speak up and
take action. “It is said that Franklin D. Roosevelt once met with a
group of activists who sought his support for legislation. He
listened to their arguments for some time and then said, “You’ve
convinced me. Now go out and make me do it.” The spirit of
Roosevelt’s advice is likely what inspired Robert Reich to say,
“Nothing good happens in Washington unless good people outside
Washington become mobilized, organized, and energized to make it
happen.” “Like democracy, public education is reserved for those
who fight for it, and Diane Ravitch’s Reign of Error is the rally
cry we can use to mobilize, organize and energize the fight for our
public schools.”