Today the blog reached a new milestone: 6 million page views in not quite 16 months. I started the blog on April 24, 2012. Since then, I have published more than 5,000 posts and received more than 100,000 comments.
A word to readers about the rules of the blog:
Rule 1: Please do not use curse words. When you enter my blog, you enter my virtual living room. Curse somewhere else, not here. I try to read every comment–a few get by me–and when I see one with offensive and vulgar language, I delete it.
Rule 2: Please be civil in your comments with one another. I love the discussions among us, I encourage healthy debate and heated argument, but I ask you to be polite to one another. I seldom interfere to prevent anyone from saying whatever he or she wishes. I print comments that I don’t agree with. But I will step in and delete your comment if it is blatantly, egregiously offensive. It is my blog and that is my rule.
Rule 3: Do not insult your host. That’s me. It is not that I am super-sensitive, but I do not wish to be insulted in my own space. Disagree all you want. Tell me I am wrong. That is okay with me. But no insults. No digs about me or my children or my dog or my cat.
Thank you to the readers who send me links to articles, many of which become posts. Thank you to the readers who send thoughtful comments that I then turn into posts. If you sign your name, I will use it. If you do not sign your name on your comments, I will not use it.
One more thing: Thank you for your patience with my mistakes. I sometimes forget to add the link; readers tell me and I insert it as soon as I find out about it. I make spelling errors and grammatical errors–usually because of autocorrect, but also because of my haste to get the latest news out to you. I apologize for the errors and the haste, and I thank those of you who help me by pointing out my mistakes. I fix them as fast as I learn about them. I remind you that I have no staff. I write whatever appears under my name; I write my own tweets, I write my own speeches, I write my own blogs, I write my own books.
Thank you for reading the blog and helping it reach more people.
Diane
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane, you are my hero. Thank you for your time and efforts on our behalf.
Congrats! I just discovered this blog not too long ago, but I really enjoy reading your thoughts and ideas.
Really? I think five million of them are mine. And to think I used to dislike you intensely before you were reborn!
Stephen made me laugh…yes, even an atheist like me can second his reborn comment. Have always believed that indeed, you can teach an old dog new tricks (and I am an old dog)…and Caltech scientists proved it.
Bravo and cheers to six million more!
Love you Diane….and your children, grandchildren, animals…and it is a blessing to have this blog so that educators, and community, can find each other. I have learned so much from so many….and love Mercedes who is on my top two list.
Great team you have put together, Diane.
Thank you for your tireless efforts to expose errors in ed. reform thinking and challenging the common wisdom of the day!
Diane, your blog is so great, I encourage everyone and definitely every teacher I know to read it.
Diane – Please don’t apologize for any of the “nits” and “picks” of grammar, spelling and such. I appreciate the time you spend and your dedication to provide a forum for us folk who are somewhat like minded. We’re not always going to agree but then that’s communication and human kind at work. If we stop trying to understand each other then we can’t hope to be understood.
The educational machine we’re fighting is well oiled, abundantly funded and staffed by the uninformed, uninitiated masses who don’t think for themselves. In my mind I get a picture of this process with the “Despicable Me” characters. Gru represents the education consortium big hitters and his minions are, well, you know who.
However, some of these people have come back into the light from the dark side due to the work of people like you Diane. It’s like spiritual salvation; if only a very few seek the truth and find hope then it’s all worth it.
So, keep tossing those monkey wrenches into the machinery 🙂
God bless ya
Jim
And I thank you for keeping us abreast of all the latest news and educational outrages. And, I also thank you for allowing me to be a guest in your house.
Congratulations! I am hoping the truth prevails! You work tirelessly!
Thank you for your work, for your point of view, for being able to align facts, history and common sense in your writing and speaking. I am simply dumbfounded, at times, at the absence of high-position challenges to blatant reform dishonesty and PR. Clearly: big checks have been written, and promises have been privately made.
Resistance to the current poison-pill version of education reform will have to be more of an actual grass roots effort than reform is itself, and your efforts help.
Thanks for all your hard work in giving voice to all of us. I do not know how you keep up the pace. By the way, I do not think you have really changed. You have always been a true educator. One who learns from real research. Real educators change their ideas. Real educators, like you, debate and argue and learn. Of course this tells us a lot about the other side. Doesn’t that six million number tell them it is time for a real, fair, honest and open as well as public debate.
Diane,
Speaking of curses and personal attacks. do you think it’s ok when people make fun of Rhee’s name, using it as the butt of jokes (eg: Rheeject?) I personally find it racist. There are a lot of legitimate attacks on Rhee, but there are also many that are (whether or not you want to acknowledge it) fundamentally grounded in her Korean ethnicity, and that’s one of them. Yet, I see this school-yard bullying behavior in your comments all the time. Surely you read it too, but I have yet to see you discourage it.
As someone who has a last name that rhymes with a curse word, one would think you especially vigilent against this kind of thing. I’m wondering about this incosistency.
Thanks,
– Concerned Korean
I have never made fun of Rhee’s name.
Sorry this seems racist to you. Most of America uses the name Michelle herself coined, Rheeform, to depict her position on education. I was in the audience when she said to the LAWAC that we should never take lightly “and angry Korean woman” …so it is clear that she uses her lineage to reinforce her behaviors. She repeats this statement on all media all the time.
I thought she was an American.
I am glad you pointed this out. I disagree completely with Rhee’s politics and her underhanded way of pushing “educational reform.” But, like you, I think we need to be civil in our discourse and not make fun of anyone’s name.
Many readers and commenter here Rheeject the type of Rheeforms that the beeeater touts. Sorry if you find jokes of this type to be racist, but they are no more racist than when the President who infamously said “I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family,” is referred to as Dumbya. Then, too, Bushisms have largely supplanted Stengelese.
I can’t fathom what connection there is to be made between this type of wordplay and Rhee’s ethnicity; unless the contention is that every such instance of such wordplay is racist.
I suspect that Michelle wishes she had trademarked these examples for her own purposes.
Congratulations and thank you for all that you do! You are America’s education information expert.
Goldarnit, Diane, but sometimes it’s really hard not to curse at some of the things you post!
And in that same vein, it’s hard to be civil to some of your trolls, such as the “gentleman” one thread down who suggests that rich kids are successful because of the genes they inherit from their parents, with no mention of all the many other things they inherit.
I’ll try harder, though.
“it’s hard to be civil to some of your trolls, such as the “gentleman” one thread down who suggests that rich kids are successful because of the genes they inherit from their parents, with no mention of all the many other things they inherit.”
I know, right!
Diane,
Congrats! And, as always, THANK YOU!
Dienne, I curse but only under my breath and in privacy.
Diane
Congratulation!
I like ALL of your rules!
OOPS. I LOVE all of your rules!!!
L e l a n
Diane,
You are my hero of public education. I read the blog every day. We who care about public schools salute you. You and your blog have done much to change the discussion. I believe we are turning a corner thanks to you. Here’s to 6 million more hits by the end of the year.
Russ
Note to KOREAN;
You’ll find in America there are over 285 foreign languages and cultures. It is difficult for people who speak about passionate topics not to make fun of the opposition. As Diane has pointed out, she does not allow cursing, however, she does allow people to express their level of consternation. This is the American way and you are now in America, witnessing what Americans do in America the free, with laws protecting free speech.
당신은 285 외국 언어와 문화를 통해이 미국에서 찾을 수 있습니다. 그것은 반대의 재미를 만들 수없는 열정적 인 주제에 대해 말하는 사람들이 어렵습니다. 다이앤가 지적한 바와 같이, 그녀는 저주를 허용하지 않습니다, 그러나, 그녀는 사람들이 경악의 수준을 표현할 수 있도록한다. 이것은 미국의 방법입니다 그리고 당신은 언론의 자유를 보호하는 법을, 미국인은 미국 자유에 무엇을 목격하고, 지금은 미국에 있습니다.
This is a very big deal and a wonderful milestone to celebrate. I was glad to hear Brian Lehrer say this morning that he has been reading your blog. But once again Ms. Tisch just danced around the tough questions. I think it’s worth posting a comment over on WNYC’s page for those who are so inclined: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2013/aug/15/common-core-and-test-scores/
Diane, you are my inspiration. I’m amazed at the sheer amount of breadth and depth of your posts that touch on every element of this misguided reform. Your voice resonates around the world.
For lack of a place to post this link, read this amazing article by a Nashville, TN attorney on why he is is no longer a Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) parent:
http://mikebyrd.net/2013/08/14/why-i-stopped-being-a-public-school-parent/
Byrd’s piece should be required reading for all rumored Democrats in power. Wow! Powerful.
Thanks for the kind words, but I am not an attorney. I don’t even play one on TV.
jcgrim…thanks for this link. It is the most cogent and well assessed article I have read in a long time. Hope all on this blog re-post it on their own sites. I signed up for MikeByrd online.
I’ve said this before, there are never enough thank you’s that I can give you. You are my hero; you are the nation’s hero, too.
If I ever see you in a meeting or in the street and you’re all of a sudden hugged tightly by a 5-foot Puerto Rican teacher, that’s me!
You are the beacon for all of us who love public schools and their children.
You are also my hero! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for fighting for justice in education!
Thank you for your thoughtful and courageous blog, Diane. It has helped me keep my sanity as I recover from being pushed out of a classroom and career I loved–teaching kindergarten for 16 years in the same district. Mike Miles was our district’s “guiding consultant” for the last several years and he destroyed teacher morale and trust between the administration and the staff. Thank you for helping me know I wasn’t crazy or weak or weird or wrong when I taught developmentally appropriate kindergarten.
Hi Diane, congratulations.
I routinely mention to people how I religiously read your posts but as you know I am not a big fan or follower or your ideas or precepts.
It is good when we see things differently; no rights, no wrongs just differences. Please keep writing and I will keep objecting.
Dick Velner – Parent, Teacher and Curriculum Principal
So, perhaps you’d care to justify the take over of our public education system Mr. Velner? I’d like to hear the “good” points.
Would you care to address the CCS from your perspective? I’m not trying to be argumentative but having worked in education for 40 years, over 10 years at the district and state level, most of that in math curriculum and test development, state standards, etc., I’m having a very difficult time seeing where much of this movement is value added.
So, where are we going wrong and how will your movement help that?
Thanks for your input
Thank you, Diane!
Comment 100,001…Thank you Diane for your hard work, vision, and leadership! You keep us inspired!
Congrats from us here in LAUSD. Can’t wait to meet you in Oct.
Sent from my iPhone
Please keep your blog going forever.
thank you Diane for providing this forum!
Congratulations on the success of your blog. You are an inspiration for all of us who believe in and promote public education.
I love your blog and regularly share it with others. I particularly liked your comments about Ben Austin the special place reserved for him even though your critics try to use those comments against you. Keep it up!
Mike Barrett
retired Evanston Township High School Science teacher
Mike…unfortunately the print media in LA is now heaping praise on Austin for his takeover of Desert Trails, 24th Street, and Weigand (they, and Eli Broad’s Supt. Deasy, just love him and Parent Revolution and his main benefactors the Walton Family Foundation who also fund Stand Your Ground legislation)….when, in a real world of free journalism, they would be heaping dung on him.
See the LA Weekly article today and the plethora of nauseating plaudits that the biased LA Times education writers, who only seem to focus on him and on charters, have been spewing forth as news lately.
Thank you, back! And congratulations on your many followers.
I appreciate this blog as it helps keep me aware of the political decisions and discussions in public education. Thank you for your efforts. We need this kind of accessible forum in addition to peer review journals.
Thank you so much for this blog-it’s changing the world in ways the education big shots can’t even see yet and I read it every day. Thank YOU for having this blog, and keeping us informed.
I heard Tisch speaking to Bryan Lehrer today on NPR. She can certainly drone on, but besides her style she said she doesn’t comment on Diane Ravitch’s comments, when he asked her about passing the test being equivalent to an A student. Why? She did say that you had changed your position on testing.
PBS had a spokes person who said that so far there has been no test developed for critical thinking for the common core.
I have learned so much reading your blog. Thank you.
It is truly heartening to read the comments by teachers who care about the public schools and the kids. It gives me hope.
We don’t need Superman when we have Superwoman! Thank you for being such a supportive advocate and keeping all of us well informed!
Diane, Thanks so much for sharing your space with us, for all of your keen insights, understanding of nuanced issues, subtle humor and the wonderful enrichment you add to our lives as well.
Sorry for any words with #$%^& in them and the periodic kerfuffles, but I think the truth is that, much of the time, many of us here have reached critical mass and probably look very much like Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”
Congratulations.
Diane, you honor educators and education and we are proud to have you among our ranks in these difficult times. I appreciated you when you were a conservative, but I must admit I appreciate you more now. May your health and energy allow you to continue to fight this battle for many more decades. With much admiration.
Dr. I’m a pretty conservative Christian, and I don’t hold to any political party. Believe it or not, it’s not only liberals who are concerned about the selling out of our public school system. If you look at the pedigree of most of these so called reformers, sure, you’ll find them listed as Republicans or conservative Democrats, or progressive, etc., but it goes much deeper than political ideology.
The move to privatize schools may be partly motivated by business/capitalists and those who claim to be conservative, but their agenda goes much deeper than that. This move is tied to UN directives and mandates to bring all the world under one umbrella. Most of us call this debauchery moving toward a “one world order”, which controls religion, politics, finances and…….education. I’d say that most of these supporters of this movement are true liberals, wouldn’t you?
So, I don’t take offense with you saying Diane was once a conservative, but don’t believe for a second that all conservatives don’t hold to Diane’s views on education reform. If anything, it’s quite the opposite among those educators who call themselves “conservative”. Conservative and education are not oxymorons.
Best to you
Jim
I think many conservatives will soon find themselves in the uncomfortable position of supporting taxation without representation as public money is diverted to private schools. The next logical step is public representation and oversight on private school governing boards. Think about it.
“This move is tied to UN directives and mandates to bring all the world under one umbrella. Most of us call this debauchery moving toward a “one world order”, which controls religion, politics, finances and…….education. I’d say that most of these supporters of this movement are true liberals, wouldn’t you?”
No, that is absolutely untrue. It is a right wing conspiracy theory –and a very effective way of spreading fear and hatred of liberals. True liberals do NOT want to see a totalitarian government running ANY country, let alone ALL countries. This is utter nonsense.
You may consider it untrue there Tinker, but I’d appreciate seeing your references to refute this.
And, by the way, I’m not a right wing conspiracy theorist. And I don’t really hold any grudge against liberals, except when it comes to serious concerns like abortion on demand, gun rights and those types of issues.
We don’t have to agree on every point, and perhaps we won’t agree on many, if any points, but it would seem we at least agree on which way education should go?
Bless you
Instead of listening to the propaganda pushed by John Birchers, Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbough, Glen Beck, Fox News etc., Google right-wing conspiracy theories, UN and new world order, and read what others say, including Esquire’s “In UN Conspiracy Theorists, the Right Has a Long Con”
http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/agenda-21-conspiracy-2012-6668296 Check Wikipedia’s article on New World Order for info on the history of that, too.
If there is anyone to be feared today, it’s the billionaires from both political parties who’ve demonstrated that they can afford to purchase the media that spreads such lies, fear and hatred. They are also the ones in the most expedient position to secure power by using their wealth to buy off politicians on both sides of the aisle and purchasing government policies. They and their lackeys stand to benefit most from being totalitarian rulers over the masses, not the liberals who seek to make our country a more equitable democracy.
It is impossible, literally, to have both equity and freedom in absolute terms. Each of us must choose. Equity requires transfer of wealth which requires force of law which implies loss of some freedom. Freedom implies everyone for himself which implies selfishness. We have a balance, but things are tipping toward loss of freedom. Do you think this reciprocal relationship is actually true?
Equity implies fairness and justice. Is it the same as equality? I find equity much more difficult to define as an absolute than either equality or freedom neither of which can exist in absolute terms without affecting the other.
The choices we make seem to have to do with our attitudes about what is right for education. I think the choices boil down to what is right for 1) our needs or 2) society’s needs.
We need to know who is responsible for the rapid push of the CC and why. We need to know who funds the individual private/charter schools and how much money they put into it and will potentially get out of it.
We need to know the specific, predetermined, expected academic outcomes they expect, what their plans are to do for the children who don’t meet the cut scores.
There are many other things we need to know before we “accept” what they have doled out. We have the answers to these questions if we look and put together the facts in a way that can’t be redefined by those who truly don’t care about the many, not just the few.
I don’t care what political persuasion of anyone might be here, but we can’t hide behind platitudes and selfishness and call others ignorant. The problem of educating all children well is the topic. If some charter supporters have “the answers” then by all means let’s look at those and share the information working together for public education.
Harlan Underhill:
Freedom and equity aren’t opposites. More of one won’t necessarily get you less of the other. The real opposite of freedom is slavery.
The opposite of equity is unfairness. Among other ideals, the U. S. was founded as a movement away from slavery toward freedom, and away from unfairness toward fairness (equity). Progress along the way has been difficult, but we have made progress in that direction.
The tension between individual rights and the common good may be built into our system, but in its present form American democracy is supposed to have room for both equity AND freedom. It is not supposed to have room for unfairness or oppression of any kind.
As for any of these qualities being present in an absolute sense, that’s not under discussion, because this is the real world. The systems we’re talking about–politics and schooling–are amazingly complex and can’t be boiled down to either-or choices.
By the way, I believe that conspiracy theories exist for the simple reason that actual conspiracies exist. (Hey, I’ve read The Tragedy of Julius Caesar more than fifty times.) For me, the one-world conspiracy theories seem farfetched, but it’s easy to see the outlines of a conspiracy in which a few well-connected, well-funded people with a hidden agenda hire a group of non-educators to cobble together the Common Core Standards and use the global credit collapse as the perfect cover–RTTT was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment act of 2009–to spring their apparently self-interested plot.
In Shakespeare’s play Cassius and Brutus got more than they bargained for. So far the results of the CCS coup haven’t been pretty either.
Best post you’ve made, sir. Right on the target. 🙂
Congrats on six million views! Your blog is as addictive as ever. Thanks especially for always bringing the focus back to the ones hurt most by bad policy–kids and their parents, and teachers. The victims of “school reform” are the ones who know the most about school, but their concerns are ignored. Except in places like this blog, where readers can find the humanity that’s missing from the reforms.
With gratitude for all you do for children, teachers, parents, public education, humanity, and democracy. Thank you for this wonderful “classroom” where learning is respected and education still has meaning.
Diane, you are a rock star to me. As a parent, I asked you to post my 14 year old daughter’s Keystone exam letter and you gave her a voice. She wants to opt out and will be. I didn’t disclose that I am a teacher in our suburban district and thanks to you, I started my own (albeit humble) blog to help educate our community. You are the ultimate teacher, and are a role model for speaking up boldly, intelligently, and factually. I am amazed and dismayed at how long it took me to learn about the corporate reform movement, and how so many brilliant people in my community still have no idea. Thank you for posting your own entries and moderating your blog. It is a huge endeavor, but I know dedicated educators aren’t afraid of hard work. I look forward to your posts every day (and the comments of your followers), and have pre-ordered your book. See you in Philly on 9/17. Thank you for sticking up for teachers, and especially for advocating for all of our country’s children. You give us hope in the hopeless moments.
This blog is helping to get out the truth in education, which is the most important thing anyone can do. Thank you and congratulations on your success!
..and thank you Linda for all your great letters to the editor in the LA Times….
Dr. Ravitch YOU ARE MY HERO!! Thank you so much for inspiring and supporting all our children, teachers, and public schools.
I am constantly amazed by your tireless efforts on behalf of our nations children. Congratulations on reaching six million views, and just think of all the other people, including me, who forward what they read here to others. Only by bringing awareness to the public will those who care about public education be able to combat those who are out to destroy it for their own profit.
Diane, you are an inspiration and my new edu-idol!!!! I just wish I could get more teachers to sign up for your blog and go viral!!!
Diane, I love your blog. I am reading your book and ordered the new one. Maybe I need to get out of education. Too hard to deal with . ..But I love my kids and I know I am effective . Thanks for your endless knowledge and inspiration. .
Maureen, High School Teacher
I feel like this blog has been the Lexington Common of our battle against “reform”. Change is coming, thanks to you and your many readers and contributors. The reformers continue to push their agenda, presenting opinion as fact, but their assertions are being challenged more and more. I just read an article today from the Waterbury Republican-American about ConnCAN, which “advocate(s) for policies intended to help”. They claim it will take 76 years (!) for Connecticut to close its achievement gap.
Read more here: http://www.rep-am.com/news/local/743741.txt
It was presented as though the report was just released. I searched the ConnCon site and it is dated October of 2012. I wrote to the reporter, Mike Puffer, asking for a copy of this report and he never responded.
This is old spin being re-spun to stir up more fear and lead to school closings and more charter take overs. The Waterbury Republican abhors teacher unions and would love to drive another nail in the coffin.
Here’s the report I think they are referring to and it is old propaganda. Also, if you read one stat from the WR article, a significant gap was free and reduced lunch, which isn’t all minorities and is a reflection of poverty not race alone.
They have this listed as October of 2012…a timely re-release after the test score drop was reported this week.
https://conncan.org/issues-research/achievement-gap
In the same newspaper is an article about the drastic drop in CAPT scores in the Windham Public Schools AFTER the arrival of “special master” Steven Adamowski. The president of the WFT is quoted as saying, ” We’re about to start the third school year of major reform. The time is now to come together and demand answers”
The union is asking for accountability for Adamowski as well as other administrators. They would like greater collaboration among administrators, teachers, and parents. You can read between the lines and figure out what’s going on right now in the Windham schools.
Yes, when will the reformers be held accountable? If the test scores in Windham, under Special Master (cough, cough) Steven Adamowski had gone up, he’d be bowing to the applause of Pryor, Malloy, and the offensively-anti child CT State Board of Education.
But if things plummet under Adamowski’s (or Vallas’s) watch, then it’s the big bad teacher’s union’s fault, and the subnormal children with their shiftless parents.
Yes, we’ll be debt free and reading at grade level in 76 years.
I am addicted. I so appreciate the opportunity to listen to so many different voices in one place. Now, if we could all sit down over a cup of coffee/tea…
Thank you from the bottom of mine my kids’ hearts. You are a gem. You have already given so much to so many, So generous. It will turn.
Congratulations! Thank you and keep up the good work. 🙂
Thank you, as always, for providing all of us a place to come together to think and talk about the work we do. You are a hero.
Thank you, Diane, for this blog. It is sorely needed common ground and inspiration for those of us in fighting the good fight in schools.
Thank you, for hosting this blog, Dr. Ravitch. What started out as a search to learn more about Common Core has taught me so much more. I am sharing what I learn with others outside of this blog.
Wow. That last one million went fast! It seems like you were just at 5 million. Thank goodness we have this blog to read about what is really happening all over the country and world!
Diane, your blog is addictive. Is that good or bad? I’m not sure. But I’ve learned a lot, and enjoyed the perspectives of all of your commenters. It also has been a terrific tool for informing others about the things that are currently transpiring in education. Thank you.
Congratulations! You and the other posters have increased my knowledge many times over.
Congratulations, Diane. Your blog and your tireless advocacy on behalf of our children and public schools are appreciated beyond measure. May you one day soon be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I am looking forward to your book tour and seeing you in Chicago.
I started reading your blog at about 4 and a half million. Your posts, the discussion, and the links galvanized me into taking action. I needed an example of how to speak out and you provided one in spades. I pray for your continued health and longevity. Can’t WAIT to read your next book – got it on order!
Report card for Diane Ravitch:
Engages readers . . . . A
Provokes thought . . . . A
Promotes fairness and equity . . . . A
Challenges one’s thinking . . . . A
Allows diverse thinking and debate . . . . A
Protects and defends education as a public trust . . . . A+++
Dr. Ravitch, may you always maintain your 4.0 GPA for this and all semesters. . . .
Thank you for everything you do and everything you are.
You have enriched and empowered all of us.
That is beautiful. You are a many of many talents. Bravo!
Thank you, Robert Rendo !!
6 million page views! Congratulations & Thank you.
THANK YOU MS RAVITCH!! Every cause needs a leader- a person who risks themselves for the benefit of others. Often this position invites the fire of those who disagree and the leadershi effort is extremely strenuous as there are numerous attackers but few leaders. YOU STAY HEALTHY, TELL US HOW WE MAY SUPPORT THE EFFORT AND COUNT ON US TO “BE THERE”
Dear Diane, I just joined your blog a few days ago as I am a huge fan of yours. I am a teacher who worked full time in the 80’s, raised a family leaving that position and working part time as an adjunct in a community college for the bulk of my career. A few years ago I returned to teaching full time in another district only to have the job, reduced to part time, let go, become a permanent substitute and finally this year, return to a full time position again. It’s been a ride but this year I am teaching hs algebra under the new common core standards. I am not happy, yes to have a job, but having to teach in this new world of ours. I believe the way you do and I just want to thank you for getting information out there. This is one of the reasons I joined, but I also enjoy learning from you. You are a great role model, in my eyes, and I appreciate everything you do and say to support the people in education.
Sincerely,
Vivienne Mazzola
Thank you for providing this valuable service to parents, educators and administrators… together we can change public education in our country!!
Diane, thank you for providing this blog. The following is a link to an editorial piece that is in the Charlotte Observer (N.C.) today. I thought you might find it interesting.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/08/15/4239727/atkinson-sticks-to-her-knitting.html
Good morning Dr. Ravitch. I am a big fan. Thanks for what you are doing. It is so important. Recently I was inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. My acceptance remarks as you can see from the attachment has a whole lot of Ravitch realism! Starting my 40th year—34 as Superintendent of Schools. By the way the attached also made the Tulsa World Editorial page today. Keep the faith and the fight! regards Lloyd Snow Supt. Sand Springs Oklahoma
As of this response there are 90 comments associated with Diane’s announcements concerning the popularity of her blog.
I, too, congratulated her on the accomplishment but commented how troubled I am with the honor and glory she’s received. K-12 education in this country is in deep trouble and as a teacher, I do not understand all the sentiment about saving “public education”.
It seems the respondents spend too much time and energy talking about what’s wrong with the reformers. Can they themselves offer solutions?
Dick Velner – Parent, Teacher and Curriculum Principal
We do everyday Dick. We just don’t tell you.
Ouch!
As a matter of fact, we can.
In San Diego, several schools that serve low-income students have implemented the IB (International Baccalaureate) program. Instead of the Common Core, why not use a program such as IB that has been recognized internationally for 40 years? Unlike the Common Core, IB has a proven track record of providing students with skills that will make them “college ready”. That is why colleges, not only in the United States, but also internationally, accept IB credits. That is why high schools throughout the word (including Finland) have implemented the IB program. If the concerns are that our students are not competitive internationally as evidenced by scores on the PISA and the TIMSS and that they are not college ready, why not implement a program that is internationally recognized and has decades long track record of addressing both concerns? This should be available for all students, including those that come from low-income urban backgrounds.
Please note that I am not a salesperson for IB, nor do I think that it is perfect, but my own children were able to take IB courses at our local public school and I do think that it provided them with skills that helped them to be successful in college.
Below is a link to an article regarding the aforementioned schools in San Diego. Unfortunately, it seems that budget cuts may cause some of these schools to lose the IB program despite the fact that their students have seen significant academic gains during the time that IB has been implemented. Can IB really be more expensive than Common Core/PARCC mandated computer testing?
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/may/09/budget-cuts-could-drive-successful-program-out-san/
Thank you for your blog that has allowed for so many of us all over the country to connect.
It is a discouraging today for Philadelphia teachers. The school district has been scrambling/fighting to find $50 million to call back laid off employees in order to open schools. The mayor finally announced he would borrow the money, so we can now open schools on time. Then, the superintendent announced an “emergency” SRC (School Reform Commission- whose members are appointed by the state and mayor) meeting. This was a slick move on their part because it happened so fast to catch the union members off guard. Superintendent Hite asked them to temporarily suspend parts of the state school code to eliminate seniority, stop pay increases and hire uncertified nurses. This is a problem because they want to get rid of older, more experienced teachers to bring in cheaper Teach For America teachers, to be able to get rid of teachers easier, start paying teachers based on student test scores and bring in nurses to work in the schools who are not certified. I don’t buy their claim that this is “temporary.” I just don’t see them changing it back in the future, if this is the new national reform agenda.
I went to the SRC meeting, along with hundreds of other teachers, students and staff. We pushed our way into the meeting-it got pretty heated. Public school parents and teachers got up and spoke to the SRC. They explained what teachers are trying to do, what we are up against, pleaded them to vote against it. Of course they passed it. It felt like a ruse-they barely listened to us, voted, got up and walked out. This summer I have gone to rallies, gone to the capital, and canvassed the neighborhoods to educate the public and ask for support. It is getting really hard. The animal we are fighting is huge and wealthy. Diane, please post something about what is happening in Philly. The situation is getting serious.
Thank you for bringing us together. It’s amazing how even though we are from all over the country, for the most part we agree about the flaws in education.
I once attended an education summit with individuals from across the country representing the various facets of education, teachers, principals, superintendents, school board members, cafeteria workers, parents, etc. This was organized by the United Methodist Women to try to find some solutions or at least a starting point for discussion. That was about ten years ago and education has suffered some major hits.
We need another summit, but this time it should be conducted by the Education Secretary. The White House needs to hear from the people in the trenches, then perhaps they will discover that their current plan is irreparably harming our children.