Bruce Baker of Rutgers is a one-man truth squad, policing the excessive claims of the “reform” movement.
In this post, he begins by defining “Ignorati,” then identifies the pundits who reached the top of his charts.
Here is his definition of “Ignorati”:
“Elites who, despite their power, wealth, or influence, are prone to making serious errors when discussing science and other technical matters. They resort to magical thinking and scapegoating with alarming ease and can usually be found furiously adding fuel to moral panics and information cascades. [ http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Ignorati ]”
Now read who is on his honor roll.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
The more I read in the ‘Ignorati’ report, the more I was reminded of the days before the Phi Delta Kappan surrendered its integrity to the Broad Foundation and others — the days of the publication of “The Bracey Report” and the “Rotten Apples” annual awards. Now that Jerry is no longer with us, this seems to be the current “Rotten Apples.” What’s amazing to me is that so many of the Rottens from ten or more years ago are still making the list today — Jeanne Allen for example. Shameless, undaunted — and continually well-funded.
As they say in the comics — AARGHHHH! But thanks for keeping track of the sublime intersection of punditry, wealth, mendacity and plutocracy.
George Schmidt: thank you for the reminder about Gerald Bracey.
He was a fearless, intelligent and sharp critic [with a data analysis and numbers/stats background to boot] of the self-styled “education reformers.” If he were still alive, he would get even fewer public debates and discussions with the edufrauds than the owner of this blog.
How many? you ask.
What’s less than zero?
😎
To answer your last question:
A black hole! (of course).
Mike Petrelli calls Diane a kook and Baker a quack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTFMZCUBxCQ Tell him what you think.
Hmmm. The little Green Monster at work.
I wish Bruce Baker’s peer-reviewed papers were more accessible to the general public. It is my impression also that many of the research papers produced by the “reformers” , including some of the more influential ones, who testify in court and give advice to policy makers, are not peer reviewed, though ballyhooed with press releases. They are peddling scientific snake oil, of a toxic variety, and people need to be made to be more aware of this fact.
Harold, much of their so called research is not even research. They write white paper speculative opinion pieces, wrap them up in speculation of what they believe should result from their policies, and back pedal frantically when reality refutes them. They then deny they offered their “research” as anything other than advice. They can not show anywhere where their policies have been effective.
It’s funny. Mike Petrelli’s blog won Best Blog: (First Prize from The Thomas B. Fordham Institute)……from his employer. Mike is the Vice President. of the Fordham Institute.
LOL Then they claim he’s “award-winning.”From the Fordham Institute website:
“Mike Petrilli is an award-winning writer and one of the nation’s most trusted education analysts.”
So if you are award winning, because your employer gave you an award, then I guess being “one of the nation’s most trusted education analysts,” really means that Fordham trusts him. P.S. Petrelli’s degree is in political science, not education.
Good God, Patricia, you can’t make these things up! Well, I’m glad Bruce Baker gave him an award, too.