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A reader remembers an important radio program about school reform. Listen up.
The strike in Chicago reminded me of an episode of This American Life from 2004, 10 years after “school reform” began in Chicago. It tells the story of one amazing public school that did a lot with very little. When “reform” began, the school culture deteriorated. This is a very moving account, and worth an hour to listen.
I have been writing This American Life to do a follow up to this story, or perhaps a series of episodes on school reform. I encourage the readers to do the same.
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/275/two-steps-back
Diane Ravitch's blog 
We are plummeting in Pittsburgh while under the control og Broad and Gates foundation. We are barely getting local press! Some schools dropped 20-30 points from 2011-2012! The superintendent and administration are confused.. They will continue to blame teachers for their failed policies. Pittsburgh needs help.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/city-schools-pssa-scores-decline-652819/
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If you haven’t heard the show, it is rarely political, but when it is, its storytelling style delivers a powerful emotional punch.
I didn’t really get why people were upset about Hurricane Katrina beyond any other natural disaster until I heard their episode on it–then I copied it and sent it to my friends and family.
Ira Glass is like the Mr. Rogers, zen master Michael Moore.
It might help if we contacted THIS AMERICAN LIFE and asked them to do a follow up or at least rebroadcast given the timeliness with the strike. It’s episode 275 Two Steps Back
email address: web@thislife.org
Twitter: @ThisAmerLife for Chicago teachers strike replay ep. 275: Two Steps Back about a good school undone by “reform.”
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That was a really great episode showcasing how Arne Duncan knows how to kill great schools. I have been writing them with story ideas about education over the last year and they haven’t done any. Frankly, the show has become obsessed with its own dorkiness and has stopped doing stories of any real substance. It isn’t particularly interesting anymore. Probably has something to do with receiving Gates money like the rest of NPR.
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