I took a fall on April 5 and had the misfortune to land full-force on my left knee. At first the knee surgeon thought I wouldn’t need surgery, and that was reassuring. However, when he saw the MRI, he changed his mind. I had managed to tear not only my ACL but the meniscus ligaments in my knee. The surgeon recommended a total knee replacement. So that’s what I will do. The date for surgery is May 9. Lots of pre-surgical tests before then, and lots of physical therapy to get ready and more after the surgery.
It is not a pleasant prospect to say the least. But this too shall pass.
In the meanwhile, I will stay on top of the news about education and continue to keep the living room open for frank discussion about the state of American education.
The Network for Public Education is going strong.
The corporate reformers seem to be growing more desperate every day, with more stories, editorials, and commercials urgently pushing their failed snake oil cures. The public is becoming aware of the scams intended to privatize their schools and of the billionaires and entrepreneurs eager to monetize public education. Here’s the good news: they are losing. Everything they do fails. We know it. They know it. No matter how much Duncan throws his weight around, no matter how many organizations Gates buys, the word is getting out. We will not hand over our public schools to corporations.
The battle will go on, and I count on you to stand up for our kids, our teachers, our schools, and real education, and to resist the tyranny of high-stakes testing and school closings, wherever you are. I may be home bound with a bum knee, but please stand up and fight wherever you are. We will win for two reasons: one, everything they propose has failed to improve education; two, we are many, and they are few.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thanks for all you do, Diane!
And three, we are right, they are wrong!
Recover well and rest…we are strong.
Sincerely, Ellen Nutters
Sent from my iPad
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Diane,
I am so sorry to hear your surgery news. We will continue to fight wherever we are. You, in the meantime, are sent many well-wishes for a speedy recover. We need you with us!
Take care of yourself!
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Diane.
Ouch! Best wishes! Thanks for ALL you do!
May your recovery be speedy.
Sorry, on the note of health and children in schools.
I discovered a toxic school in Elmhurst Queens as a teacher and forced the City to spend 10 million dollars to correct it. I was a whistle blower kicked to the curb after protecting kids and teachers at PS 7 and was terminated. School was built on a toxic pool. Bill D was my only supporter. CM Dromm is doing the right thing calling for toxic school oversight.
http://www.wnyc.org/story/ed-department-opposes-more-environmental-reporting/
Your books and blog are getting me through my neck surgery. Hope the thoughts of the many who support you are some consolation. Get well!
Diane, from time to time on this blog, you recognize one of the heroes in the movement to stop the abusive education “reforms,” but I am certain that most here will agree that you are the greatest of these heroes.
Thousands across this country are grateful, each day, for your informed, discerning, courageous, compassionate, indefatigable leadership, and the well-being of millions has depended upon it. At a time when you could easily be resting on your laurels, you decided that you couldn’t sit idly by while, bizarrely, in the name of reform, egregious harm was done to kids, to teachers, and to the great U.S. public school system.
We are fortunate that often in times of crisis, the leader emerges who is up to the challenge. I thank all the gods that ever were for you.
I’ve often thought, OMG, this woman must be bionic. Well, . . . soon, I guess.
Thank you, and a speedy and complete recovery.
With boundless admiration,
Bob
Ditto to all of that Diane. Don’t skip on the rehab. It is essential.
I would definitely add Laura Chapman to that list of heroes. Your research and the knowledge that you bring to bear on the various questions raised on this blog are invaluable.
Bob Shepherd: what you said.
Ellen Nutters [comment above]: what you said.
And to the owner of this blog on the two-year anniversary of her blog:
“Be careless in your dress if you will, but keep a tidy soul.” [Mark Twain]
😏
Thank you for keeping tidy!
😎
Surgery is never pleasant, but you will likely have more mobility when they are done. May you ;have the comfort of good books and friends. My thoughts and prayers will be with you. Go, relax, recover.
Well, we can’t go lettin’ ya fall apart on us now, can we?
Reading your work first opened my eyes to the “truth” about “reform”.
Forever grateful that you took a stand years ago ….
So, you may “sit” a spell for now!
Best thoughts to you!
My wishes are for you to have a speedy and complete recovery.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
@ Diane… Your words of encouragement are SO important! Thanks for sharing them daily! Your words are so important to the many of us who refuse to back down or to leave the public schools in such dire times of need! I have started my own sort of micro-cosmic grass roots campaign more vigilantly than ever. Many of the teachers I work with are so entrenched with data obsession, common core, over-stuffed classes, SLO’s etc that they are not looking at THAT ALL IMPORTANT LARGER picture. Many do not know who the “ed reformers” are. Some do not even know who Arne Duncan is (really and truly). I shudder when I mention names like you, Susan O’Hanian, Leonie Haimison, John Kuhn, Jonathan Kozol, Deborah Meier, Carol Burris, Alfie Kohn, Anthony Cody, and many others and not one name registers with many of the teachers I work with.
When I asked a NYC teacher friend who is quite the activist, if her experience differs, she tells me that there are many teachers she works with too who are equally not in the know. One teacher I spoke to thought he was educating himself on the issues by reading Ed Week and the NEA emailed newsletters! I am making it my mission to talk to as many teachers as I can( who I work with) and leading them to the sites where they can connect up with public school teachers, administrators, parents etc.. who are concerned at this attack on public education. There are still way too many teachers who are totally frustrated at their circumstances but are not knowledgeable about the causes.
I hope knowing that all those who are reading your blog regularly and are probably doing the same “leg work”… I hope this adds to YOUR QUICK RECOVERY.
Take care of yourself.
So sorry to hear this…last May I had bilateral replacements and have successfully recovered. Please do all (and it is painful) follow up physical therapy to recover full flex and extension. Wishing you all the best as you are our guru. Elizabeth DeMarco
wishing you a speedy recovery. thank you so much for all you do!
We ALL send you healing breath. YOU TAKE CARE!
Best wishes for a very speedy recovery! You are an inspiration!
Please take care of yourself. Sending good energy across the country.
Good luck, Diane. My sister-in-law is 87 and she had a knee replacement; they gave her a “female” knee…. that was interesting. She did well in the rehab and we were able to visit her every day. She is back to all of her routines successfully, tennis, driving, bridge, etc… and nary a complaint. I trust that you will also have a complete and early recovery.
Diane, all the best to you. We value you and your leadership so much… so rest and be well soon.
Dianne, Good luck with your surgery and have a speedy recovery.
Prayers and healing thoughts for you Diane! Saying thank you doesn’t seem enough for all you do for all of our kids!
I wish you speedy and complete healing. If I can be of any help, please contact me. I am trying to do my part in CT in becoming a vocal opponent to the CC and the accompanying tests. I have published the following articles in the past few weeks:
http://ctmirror.org/op-ed-flawed-at-the-core/
http://ctmirror.org/op-ed-foul-shots-in-the-classroom-a-fable/
http://ctmirror.org/op-ed-buyers-beware-of-common-core/
I also wrote a rebuttal to David Brooks’s piece in the NYT which was featured on Jonathan Pelto’s blog, “Wait, What?, on April 23rd.
If I can help with the writing or the search as you recover, I would be glad to to it.
Best wishes,
Ann Policelli Cronin
Wishing you well and sending you healing energy. THANK YOU for all that you do.
Wishing you strong dancing knees to kick high when corporate raiders are finally banished from public schools. And that day will definitely come!
Tremendous positive energy from all corners of the world will be here supporting you as you recover from your surgery. You are our example of courage to do what is right in the world. Thank you for all you do for others. Rest and heal, our fearless Diane!
You are a strong woman and will overcome this setback. Sending you positive thoughts and wishes for a speedy recovery!
Wishing you a safe surgery and a complete and speedy recovery. Do not skimp on the healing process; it is best done properly the first time around!
Get better, think good thoughts, and enjoy the little things that make life worth living, between the doctor appointments.:)
Thank you for all you do. It is greatly appreciated.
There’s lots of advice out there that patients should always ask their doctors questions.
May I suggest that you ask your doctors who they support: Common Core or the public schools and teachers
If they answer Common Core, don’t let them operate on you.
Just a suggestion. :o)
Best Wishes and rest during your recovery!
Of course, the vigilance to protect our kidlets continues.
Lloyd, good advice to check out the doctor’s leanings first. In fact, Diane, please take a fat black permanent magic marker and write above the bum knee: #stopcommoncore . Don’t be surprised if he covers his groin upon reading this.
Thanks for everything!
Will be thinking only positive thoughts for you on May 9th and a successful recovery thereafter.
Rest up, Diane. We will carry on. Hoping for a quick, painless recovery and a spring in your step.
Thanks for continuing to keep us up to date.
Diane, a good friend just had knee replacement surgery at the HSS 4 weeks ago, and he is doing very well. He gives rave reviews for his experience at the hospital and the PT at home afterward. He is already getting up and downstairs and getting out for short walks with a cane. Best wishes for a smooth and comfortable surgery and recuperation. We will stand strong for you, and soon you will be standing up with us again.
Sending positive energy your way. Hospital for Special Surgery is the best. You’re in good hands.
God Bless you, and I wish you well. Three of my colleagues and I plan to present information regarding PARCC in Springfield. It’s good news that legislators there seem to be receptive. Thank you for all that you are doing for public education and educators across the country!
Thank you, Diane! And the best to you through surgery and recovery!
Thank you, Diane. Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I can hear you asking all of your doctors, therapists, and caretakers about their educational experience.
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-20251121 Dear Diane, my friend had knee replacement surgery and a stroke followed close behind. She was and is very healthy, an aerobics instructor. Look at the article above about the BBC noticing this in England and the surgeons suggesting people take aspirin before or shortly after the surgery to prevent this. I hope you have a successful surgery and are up and about as my friend is now. She walks better than ever..Praying for you ..
One thing to consider:
How many surgeries of this type has the surgeon conducted? You want someone who has done many (100s or 1000s) and not a few (less than 100). And how many annually.
Good luck with surgery. A panel of 8 (superintendents, principal, board member, parents, teachers and a student) met with 7 legislators this past week regarding the Keystone Exam mandates in PA. (Grad requirements etc) They too agree that the test demands have to change but want new ideas for accountability. Ideas?
So sorry to learn of your knee problems. Best wishes for a speedy recovery… Jerry Hausman
I am so sorry to hear about your surgery! Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope you feel the love send by all of your loyal followers.
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo! In spite of your knee injury you fight on! May your surgery be successful and may you soon return to good health.
You are a true warrior! I love your battle cry:
“The battle will go on, and I count on you to stand up for our kids, our teachers, our schools, and real education, and to resist the tyranny of high-stakes testing and school closings, wherever you are. I may be home bound with a bum knee, but please stand up and fight wherever you are. We will win for two reasons: one, everything they propose has failed to improve education; two, we are many, and they are few.”
May you continue to energize all caring people to join the fight.
Diane, wishing you the safest and speediest of recoveries from your knee replacement surgery. And, so thankful for America’s children that your brain, heart, voice and soul are in perfect health. Be well and Thank “you” always!
Prayers and positive thoughts are being sent your way for April 5 and beyond. Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 16:01:20 +0000 To: nancyturnbo@hotmail.com
Thank you for standing up for the children of our country. Now, it’s your time to rest and let others carry the work forward while you prepare for the next marathon. My best wishes for a speedy recovery.
You take care of yourself. I have two pins in my knee. Therapy is the key! We are all sending positive thoughts your way. Look at the responses! You’re a fighter, you can do this! What you do for public education is AMAZING. Thank you for all you do. You are such a role model to all of us!
Reblogged this on Pace N.Ireland Education Weblog.
Best wishes!
I’m sure you enough to ignore all our well meaning medical advice and follow the instructions of your excellent doctors. It will definitely be an “educational” experience.
Diane, I am sorry you have to look forward to surgery but I just want to tell you that a friend of mine had a knee replacement and was up and around very quickly with no pain. I wish you the best.
Cheers,
Elizabeth Rose
“Yo Miz”
Prayers for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery.
Feel better soon, Diane! We need you!
Best wishes for a speedy and uncomplicted recovery.
I had knee replacement surgery for MLK day and will have the other knee replaced on Cinco de Mayo . Will be thinking of you and enjoying your wonderful blog in recovery. I hope we both recover as well and as quickly as I did on the first one. Physical therapy and exercise is key.
‘Thoughts and prayers go with you, dear Diane.
Good heavens, Diane…please don’t go to a “charter” hospital staffed by “doctors for America” interns with only a few weeks’ training! 😉
Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
I already miss your daily blogs and you aren’t even in recovery yet;-). Hope all goes smoothly and you get well quickly.
I miss your blogs already and you aren’t even in recovery yet;-) I wish you only the best!
Mgotham, there may be fewer but they won’t stop. Even on the operating table, I will be blogging.
Keep smiling – we will all be here waiting and rooting for a speedy recovery.
Good luck with your knee surgery. My husband will be having the same surgery about when you are. I wish you both well. Your voice is the only voice of sanity that I hear. ( Not sure I can say the same for my husband. ). Only kidding. Be well. We all need you. Maybe YOU should run for office – once you’re back on your feet. Walk, then run.
Beth Forrester
Sent from my iPhone
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I hope you recuperate quickly. Your voice is needed, but your own health should be your priority. The momentum is continuing to gain an there are many people who have ha enough with the privatization and take-over of formerly public services. I am hoping many people will be thrown out of the running in the upcoming primary elections. It is amazing how many candidates spin misinformation to make themselves look like Saints. In Ohio , Boehner is taking 180° turns to pretends to be reasonable. And John Kasich declares his interest in those who are struggling while he is helping his wealthy cronies. He is advocating for charter schools bit he refrains from sayin private charter schools. Many people have no idea.
Get well soon. Hope your surgery goes well.
I wish you all the best. I only began to follow your blog full-time a few weeks ago (although I frequently read it on links from Leonie and others,). I have read your last book, heard you on Moyers and you ARE the voice that connects us all to the fast moving changes.
Moreover, things are happening really fast!
Not only was the subject of charter schools front Page in The NY Times, today, but I read the word ‘best practice’ in the UFT newspaper, —and on the opposite page children were described as LEARNERS not students…the LANGUAGE OF THE STANDARDS.
NYC parents have had it with the testing and the mandates. They are getting active. They want the teachers to have the respect and support they need. You cannot be gone for long!You have to get well fast.
The deformers that I call the EDCorp, went too far; Llke that idiot Bundy,.. it’s the hubris of people who get away with outrageous behavior. Seeing no accountability, they go even farther. They overstep themselves… 3hours tests for 3 days for really young kids.
Eventually, for New Yorkers they have gone too far. The kids don’t want to go to school; the parents are spending enormous amounts of time looking for kindergarten and nursery schools as if college depended on it. The tests confuse the adults, and forgive me, but there are some very educated citizens who are New Yorkers.
They see that there is no transparency with the test results. The tests tell THEM nothing. The teachers do not get to see the results in a way that INFORMS THEIR PRACTICE… and that is the only reason for tests… to help teachers plan lessons to meet the needs of the kids… and BTW… ‘tests for teachers use’ IS the 4TH PRINCIPLE OF LEARNING — which was the NEW STANDARDS! This principle stated that “genuine evaluation” and “authentic performance assessment” (love the adjectives) ARE FOR THE TEACHER…TO INFORM PRACTICE!.
So, while all this is happening, WE NEED YOU.
Get well, fast… and if there is anything I can do for you, let me know… i am a Brooklyn girl, and know my way there; and there is cyberspace.
I hope your surgery goes well and your recovery is quick.
Just to let you know, I had total knee replacement in July. It was very successful although I will never be able to do “child’s pose” again. Any questions, I’d be happy to share my experience.
All the best and wishing you a very speedy recovery!
Hoping you can feel the collective energy of the countless children whom your work continuously benefits, largely because they benefit from the confidence, determination, perspective, and bringing-together you bring to their teachers, parents, and advocates. May this powerful force be with you before, during and after May 9. Godspeed, dear Diane.
Thank you, Kipp.
Diane – Prayers and good wishes are coming your way for a successful surgery and quick recovery. Thankfully surgeons do MANY knee replacements and are very accomplished at it. I’m sorry you have go through this but am so glad there’s a remedy. Thousands of folks will be pulling for you.
Diane,
All my prayers for a great surgeon, a successful operation, and a speedy, easy recovery!
Speedy recovery, Diane! We need you!
Wishing you a speedy recovery. I had the pleasure of seeing you at Syracuse University and know how important your work is to all of us in the educational arena. We need your voice to continue leading the way.
I wish a rapidy recovery! In Portugal this blog is read with much attention!
all health and good wishes to you Diane!
Diane-
I sent you an email via your NYU address earlier in the week. Again, so sorry about your knee. I’ve just started a company that has a process to help people prepare for and recover from surgery. I’d love to offer the process to you. Let me know if you are interested.
Be well,
Heather
Wishing you well with surgery, Diane. We are your “knees and feet” on the ground while you recover. 🙂
All good wishes for a speedy recovery. In the meantime … give yourself some of those “gifts” that you sometimes send our way: poetry, music, funny you tube clips, and photos.
I just want you to know, that tomorrow, April 28th through May 1st, the New Jersey Ask test will be given for my daughter’s 7th grade classes. I have elected to “opt out..or refuse”. After notifying the superintendent, I received a letter in response, stating that New Jersey does not have a policy to allow for opting out. they were trying to scare me or bully me into submission, however I refuse to allow them to dictate that my child take these tests.
She is a high honors student. I do not need this test to show me what she is capable of. Anyway, I thought you would like to know, We are fighting the status quo.
So sorry to hear about your severe fall. I helped my mom through a knee replacement a couple years back. It wasn’t easy, but she is doing great, more spry than she had been in several years. As you said, this too shall pass, but it will slow you down for a while.
I wanted to make you aware of several things happening with the GO PUBLIC Project, which will hopefully help enlighten the public about public education. First, our documentary, GO PUBLIC: A Day in the Life of an American School District has begun to air on PBS stations across the country including several airdates this week in Philadelphia and in Southern California. Here’s our screening schedule, http://gopublicproject.org/screenings/screenings-schedule/. We will be updating this schedule as new information becomes available.
Also, we are co-hosting a LIVE Webcast on Thursday, April 30 at 6PM, with education experts both in studio at Pasadena City College and on-line across the country to discuss the challenges facing public education today. Here’s a link to our GO PUBLIC website with all the information. http://gopublicproject.org/2014/04/webcast-wednesday-join-the-conversation/
We just learned that Cindy Marten, Superintendent of San Diego Unified will be joining our line up of on-line education experts. I know you are a big fan of Cindy’s, as are we. If you are up to it, Diane, and have a computer handy, please join the conversation. We would LOVE to hear from you…always! Register here: http://www.pasadena.edu/media/
We wish you a speedy recovery Diane and please rest assured that the GO PUBLIC team is working diligently to combat misperceptions about public education. We are trying to raise awareness and understanding about the critical need to value and support public education in every community across the nation. Here is our new CALL TO ACTION page on the GO PUBLIC website. http://gopublicproject.org/call-to-action/ Please let us know if you think we need to add or change something.
Blessings and GO PUBLIC!
Dear Ms. Ravitch,
Sorry to hear about your knee. I had a full knee replacement last year and just wanted to pass on some advice. My replacement was to correct ACL surgery I’d had thirty-five years before, which had been unsuccessful. This time around I was up and walking four hours after surgery, as will you. While strengthening your leg is important before, what happens after is crucial. First, don’t get behind on the medication. For the first few days make sure you take all the pills they give you. My wife got behind and it was hell. Next, once you have begun outpatient therapy, try to do more at home. While less is more much of the time, more is more as well, sometimes. Finally, try and have an elevated toilet and shower seat already installed. Also you’ll need someone around the clock those first few days, especially to help you at night. Speaking of night, sleeping will probably be tough at first (trying to get comfortable) but this too shall pass. The difference is going to be amazing.
All the best,
Adam Gish
Thank you, Adam, I am definitely not looking forward to this ordeal.
I am so sorry to hear of your need for surgery. I have heard many good things about the most recent surgeries and their successes. PT can be a bear, but you can do it. Love the comments above, may seem mundane, but probably very wise.
Thanks for keeping your ear to the ground and sharing your inciteful (sp?) thoughts about the state of education, etc. these days.
(Insightful…) 🙂
Dear Diane: Very sorry about you knee. Don
Donald M. Stewart
5555 S. Everett Ave., Apt. B1
Chicago, IL 60637
donstewart74@gmail.com
(773) 684-9044
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