Last week, I invited the advisory committee of the Network for Public Education to hold its first face-to-face meeting at my home in New York City. After an all-day discussion, I invited everyone to do a walk-through of the house, which is a wonderful old brownstone in a landmark neighborhood.
In my fourth-floor office, I pointed out old family and professional photos. Julian Vasquez Heilig asked if he could take a picture of my second grade class at Montrose Elementary School in Houston. “Go ahead,” I said. Little did I know that Julian would turn the photo into a contest on his blog, asking readers if they could pick me out. So far, no one has.
As it happens, today is a big birthday for me. I am 75. I have never felt embarrassed about my age, whether I was too old or too young. I still have huge reserves of energy. I am passionate about the work in which we are all engaged, the task of protecting public education for future generations of children and preventing its privatization.
The great thing about reaching 75 is that I have no ambitions. I don’t want a job. I don’t want to be appointed to anything. I don’t care about prizes. I want to do the right thing. What I want is to live in harmony with my conscience. I want to know that I have done my best every day to advance the cause of better education for all children. I want to tell the truth as best I know how, without holding back. I want to be honest about my mistakes. I want to be quick to admit when I am wrong and quick to apologize.
I could be a better mother, a better grandmother, a better partner to my partner. I could be neater. I should exercise more. I can think of lots of ways I could be better as a person. But it seems to me that at this point, the die is cast. I am who I am. I am 75. I have a great life. I love what I do. I still have plenty of work ahead of me. And I plan to be around long enough to see the terrible scourge–high-stakes testing, teacher-bashing, top-down authoritarianism, profiteering, privatization– that is now afflicting American education come to an end. It will end, and I want to be with you to pop the cork and sip champagne when it does. Bad things don’t last forever. Stay around for the time when we will all celebrate together. It is starting to happen now. The public is getting wise. Everything the corporate reformers try or impose is failing. Soon even they will see what we see.
Every day, every month, every year brings us closer to the day when the status quo collapses, and we can focus on what matters most: children–each of whom is unique–and genuine education–which means far more than test scores.
My greatest birthday present is knowing that there are students, parents, teachers, principals, administrators, school board members, and tireless citizens across the nation who are taking a stand and making a difference.
If you want to do something for me to help celebrate my birthday, today and in the future, take action: join with others to insist on doing what you know is right; speak up; write a letter to the editor or the President; live in fidelity to your professional ethics or your commitment to the well-being of your child; think of other people’s children as if they were your own, then act. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Do not do to others what you would not want for your own child.
As Vaclav Havel wrote long ago about another country, “live in truth.” Make our democracy work for all of us.
Diane is bottom row, second from the left . . . .
Your birthday present cuts two ways
first, you have the undying admiration and respect of the many people you have inspired in the struggle to reclaim public education in this country
second, you yourself are your greatest birthday gift – you are a gift to the rest of us.
Yes, Diane, I know how much you believe that we must organize ourselves from the ground up, that is the collective of individuals rather than individual leaders
but movements require many sparks
your book struck plenty of them (as I am sure will be true of the one forthcoming later this year)
when you traveled speaking about your book, you struck more, as your personal integrity inspired others to stand up on principle
this blog has become a key place to which people turn to learn about other allies in the movement, to stay current with both the positives and the negatives about our ongoing struggle
I am a bit more than 8 years younger than. I often reflect where I am on my own birthday. I look back to remind myself of how I got to that point as an encouragement to keep on with the good fight.
You have nothing to prove.
You still have a lot of life to live
That is your present to us, and to yourself.
Have a wonderful birthday.
The row above the bottom row, third child from the left?
Happy Birthday Diane!
Living in Truth is a great way to get up each morning and set your moral compass for the day.
Thanks for your devotion to our children’s futures, our country’s teachers and justice and equality for all in our democracy through your tenacity, intellect, wit, and compassion in our fight for public education.
Here is a birthday present from Ohio:
We are solidifying state regional groups for public ed to organize, strategize and set goals for action steps. Meeting in Garfield Hts, Ohio on July 17th.
Also, our 2nd 4- state regional conference with Parents Across America and Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education is set for July 20th in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Rock on Diane,
Have a Happy Day and know that you are loved, FAR and WIDE!!!
Maureen
Happy birthday and God bless. You are an inspiration to all.
With respect and in the struggle for a fair and just education for all.
Pat
Happy Birthday! Thank you for sharing the truth; your integrity speaks to my heart and mind. God Bless!
I loved this post. I wish you a happy birthday AND a happy life. Sometimes I skip reading your daily blog because it’s just too hard to listen to and the tasks we are up against seem insurmountable. I retired last July and have taken a slight vacation from active protest. I will return, but dealing with the administration by Governor Chris Christie, the political bosses and money grubbing “suits” have worn me down. The walls my former staff members butt their heads against daily are strong and well financed with a bottomless supply of greenback mortar. They are so good and caring and their job is made so much more difficult by these badly thought out “reforms”. Keep up the good work and I will join the fray soon again.
Kandy Lippincott, retired Camden City teacher from NJ
Happy Birthday to one of our greatest national treasures, advocates, activists, heroes, and intellects
Diane, thank you for your illuminations, your passions, yout truth, and just for you being you.
The biggest gift to you today is the recognition that 99.9% of us who read your blog are transformed forever for the better to be movers and shakers and guardians of democracy.
Ditto on that, Robert. Diane’s blog rescued me at a time when I was ready to give up and give in. Thank you for giving me a great gift of knowledge and a safe place to come to for a renewed energy to fight on. I turned 50 this year and I too want those things you listed, Diane. Thank you for inspiring me! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Diane!!!!!!
Your boundless engergy and commitment inspire me every day.
…..posing as a mild-mannered reporter from a great metropolitan city, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American way!!! :~)
Happy Birthday Diane,
I think it is appropriate considering the swell of teacher pride erupting on Facebook via BAT.
You continue to be a shining inspiration to me.
Dan
Oh, Happy Day!
Hi Diane and Happy Birthday! Your words and actions bring hope to a mid level career teacher like myself! Common Core, SLO’s and more testing are even going to eat into the Arts this year. Trying not to be despondent about this and to use my creativity to nurture my student’s creative expression despite ever-increasing odds against this! I wish I could join in with the BAT group but in this day and age of lack of privacy (especially on facebook), wish there were an alternative way of joining up! Happy birthday again and keep up the fight and rally the teacher troops!
Happy Birthday! Thanks for your good work!
As that great celebrator of birthdays, Winnie-the-Pooh (with Owl’s spelling assistance), wrote for Eeyore: Many Happy Returns of the Day. May each day bring you love, joy, and good stories to balance the hard work you do digging for and proclaiming the truth about the state of education in our country.
Happy Birthday, Diane.
Your great post includes all the reasons why I follow your writings and speeches.
I hope to one day thank you in person for all the encouragement and information you have provided which has helped me to stand up and question the reforms in an informed way.
But for now, please know that I am beyond grateful for all the time and enormous intellect that you bring to the crucial education debate about public education. You have truly been my anchor for me in a sea of teaching insanity this past year.
Diane, I thought you might enjoy this story. Yesterday was my husband’s seventy-fifth birthday and he and I discussed his past, his present, and his wishes for the future.
Much like you he is a person who is true to himself and his word. Like you he has come to peace with the fact that he is who he is and not likely to change. A good man, a fair man, an honest man, a decent man, a gifted intelligent hard working man, just enough not perfect to be interesting, quirky and engaging. He, like you, has served his seventy-five years well and with purpose and dignity.
He did, however, have a question for me during the conversation that made me smile and opened a wonderful discussion on what has taken me to the computer wrapped in words and contemplation. He asked, Who is that woman who keeps writing and is overwhelming the computer and has you tip toeing to peek at what she has written throughout the day? Before he left for work today I was able to tell him, she is a woman born of the same sign and time, who like himself is a mentor and a gift in my life and that I am grateful and humbled by both your existence and contributions for the sake of others. Healthy Happy Birthday wishes sent with Respect and Appreciation from myself and all those children now and in the future who have such an Amazing Advocate such as, Diane Ravitch.
Happy Birthday Diane!!! You are the inspiration for me and so many others. And, to make my best analytic guess, I’d say that you are the girl in the second row on the far right.
Gary, you win!
No way, really?
Yes!
Ms. Diane Ravitch,
Happy Birthday greetings to you! I couldn’t agree with you more. In the final analysis of things, I too believe it is how you’ve affected your family, friends, and people, in general. Living by the “Golden Rule” is one way to help keep life on the right track.
Btw, tomorrow’s my birthday SO from 1 Cancerian to another, Many Happy Returns! Enjoy!!!
From one who was born on 7/3/55 I wish all birthday boys and girls “Feliz Cumpleaños”.
Happy birthday to you! Thank you so much for this blog! You have given me the courage to advocate for what’s right for young children in my school district. Btw, a second-grade class that size would put me into early retirement! Of course, things were different back then, but still…
Our lives are measured in savoring the small moments of wonder, making a difference in this ever changing world and touching lives with kindness, wisdom and love. As you reflect today on your 75th milestone, may you smile with the inner joy of knowing you have embraced all of these measures. Although many of us may never have a chance to know you in person, I feel I have come to know your heart and soul through your words and actions, and am most grateful for learning from you and advocating for America’s children with you. Thank you inspiring each of us to stand taller for democracy and public education. Happy Birthday Diane, here’s toasting to many more.
Here’s hoping that you have a very pleasant and enjoyable Birthday Day!
Second row – fourth from right?
Happy Birthday Diane!
Your words, actions, and ethics have moved me beyond words. I’m happy to hear you have lots of energy and plan to be around for a long time.
You are the ultimate Mama Bear!
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays with many more to come. Your constancy in this fight is what inspires so many of us to keep going.
Thank you for all you do. Enjoy your special day!
Much, much love,
LG
My guess:
Bottom row, second from the left. 🙂
Happy Birthday, Diane! You are an inspiration to this soon to be 63 year old!
Happy birthday, Diane. Thank you for enlightening us, your wisdom and fortitude.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Rose
“Yo Miz”
Happy Birthday and God bless you for your work.
Amen and Happy
Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Diane!
I am almost your age so I know exactly what you mean. We are at a point in our lives when we can speak up when we see injustice without fear for our jobs. What a great feeling that is!
You have accomplished so much in your life but the best is yet to come. You’ll be applauded as the hero who saved our public schools.
Happy, happy Birthday! You and this blog picked me up when I was down and grieving last June. I was grieving my partner of 27 year’s death, and grieving my forced retirement. You helped me to understand what was happening in this country to teachers and that I was not alone. I will always be grateful to you. At 62, I don’t have the energy that you do, so I envy you. I also love that you are a dog lover. We recently had to put our 6 year old boxer down for cancer. It was heartbreaking. We will take a break but like you I can’t be without a dog. We are thinking rescue. You are an inspiration in every way. Have a fantastic day!
Happy birthday from a very grateful teacher. It’s encouraging to know we have a moral, intelligent, strong and dedicated women on our side. Enjoy the day!
Words fail me. Let me borrow someone else’s as a small present.
This is the last verse from a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti called “I AM WAITING” [in a very small and lovely collection entitled A CONEY ISLAND OF THE MIND]:
I am waiting
to get some intimations
of immortality
by recollecting my early childhood
and I am waiting
for the green mornings to come again
youth’s dumb green fields come back again
and I am waiting
for some strains of unpremeditated art
to shake my typewriter
and I am waiting to write
the great indelible poem
and I am waiting
for the last long careless rapture
and I am perpetually waiting
for the fleeing lovers on the Grecian Urn
to catch each other up at last
and embrace
and I am waiting
perpetually and forever
a renaissance of wonder
🙂
I wonder what will be on Diane Ravitch’s blog tomorrow?
🙂
Happy birthday Diane. It is a rare person who is true to herself and to others. I hold you in such high esteem and truly believe that you will be always remembered as one of America’s greatest educators. Each day I pray that your mighty pen will save public education. This next year will be my last as a teacher. I do not consider my forthcoming retirement as an end, but a beginning. I join with you to try to save an institution that enabled the son of two people who never completed high school, because they had to support their family’s during he depression, to get a college education and contribute something to the lives of many children. May you live to a hundred.
Happy Birthday, and thank you.
Happy, happy, HEALTHY birthday, Diane, and one million thanks for all that you have done and will do. You are truly a national treasure, one that grows in value everyday.
Best wishes for many more happy, healthy birthdays. And–may this be the year that you receive the Nobel Peace Prize. You, above all, are truly worthy.
Indeed, you are worthy, Diane. I have learned much from your blog and your books. Know how much you are admired by so many.
I too pray for an end to this madness. You give us hope.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Dr. Ravitch.
Diane, Happy Birthday! This was the most amazing post I think you’ve written yet. The rest of the commenters have written words I could have, too…you are an amazing and inspirational person, & every teacher and child in the nation owe you tremendous gratitude! I wish there were more people in this world like you 🙂
One of my first ever blog posts was entitled, “Diane Ravitch is My Idol”. Thank you for all the reasons that continue to make you so, day after day!! YOU ARE AWESOME 🙂
http://theindignantteacher.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/diane-ravitch-is-my-idol/
A very happy birthday to you. Thank you for being exactly who you are. You have added to who I am. I hope to meet you some day.
Happy birthday, Diane! Press on! Our children and teachers need you!
Happy Birthday Diane. You give me courage to stay in the game, whether we win or lose.
Happy Birthday Diane.
What a good way to celebrate a 75th birthday doing what you love to do and still being active. There is nothing better. The tide does seem to be changing. Now is the time to turn up the heat.
Best wishes on your birthday Diane! A little over a year ago I was desperately looking a network of professionals willing to stand up to Michele Rhee and the anti-teacher media. Luckily, I found your blog, The Network for Public Education, and recently the BAT’s. I, (a public school teacher) can’t thank you enough for your willingness to take the lead against the destruction of public education. You are making a difference.
Happy Birthday from a teacher in Lubbock, TX.
Happy Birthday Diane, what can one want more than to be happy in their own skin. You continue to be an inspiration with your strong commitment to children and public education.
“And I plan to be around long enough to see the terrible scourge–high-stakes testing, teacher-bashing, top-down authoritarianism, profiteering, privatization– that is now afflicting American education come to an end. It will end, and I want to be with you to pop the cork and sip champagne when it does. Bad things don’t last forever. Stay around for the time when we will all celebrate together. It is starting to happen now. The public is getting wise. Everything the corporate reformers try or impose is failing.”
These words provide inspiration and encouragement!
But they also expose a truth – “ed reform” truly is a Ponzi scheme. Those who will profit most by it are those who are in early, make a killing and exit. Their success is contingent on dragging others in. When the pyramid topples, the profitters will be long gone – Rhee, Bush and FEE, Deasy, White, TFA, NCTQ, Murdoch, et alia. Let’s hope – and work towards ensuring – that our society, our urban schools and our kids whose future depend on public education are not left crushed beneath the ruins.
¡Salud! y qué cumpla muchos más, Doña Diane!