This reader, Timothy Quinn, received an advanced reading copy (ARC) of my book. Here is his review, proving the power of social media:
“I’ve had the privilege of reading an ARC of “Reign of Error.” It is an important book for anyone interested in preserving what’s left of our democracy. I’m president of my local board of education and the ARC is making the rounds among my colleagues. I look forward to meeting you when you visit our town in November. A lot of suburban districts feel insulated from the privatization movement, but we’ve seen firsthand how even independent suburban charters are an inefficient use of tightly-capped public resources that benefit a few while not reflecting diverse learning populations. We dodged the bullet of a language-immersion charter and sued the commissioner of education to prevent a circumventing of charter rules to approve virtual charters. The threat to EVERYONE is very real, which makes “Reign” required reading even for those happy with their schools in communities that are willing to fund open public education. We must remain vigilant.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yeah…good for you, Diane!
I still remember how shocked I was when I realized the (formerly) great Washington Post was under the ownership and direction of the testing companies. But there are always ways for the truth to get out and the current way is social media. Yes, it’s a blessing and by reading all the responses on the various education blogs, we can see that awareness is spreading. Thanks, again, Diane, for providing the leadership.
While I agree with you about the terrible toll these media outlets under undue influence of big brother business take on. Truth and democracy, I feel compelled to defend the efforts of Valerie Strauss whose important blog is featured by the Post . I do not see any compromises on the Answer Sheet and Strauss is one of the most viable voices there is for teachers and the public to use in decoding the reformer rhetoric and evaluating the value of new programs, testing and legislature being introduced about public education. For whatever reason, WaPo sees fit to keep hr on and seems to be refraining from oppressing her direct, sharp opinions and insights. In LA there has been a huge shift in town from the LATimes and Daily News which LAUSD and Supt. Deasy influence increasingly, so much so that Barbara Jones has become something of a Judas to teachers she pretends to sympathize with then interviews but rarely writes about with any real accuracy or intelligence. Her fondness for Deasy is downright disgusting. Of course LAT has a crew of mediocre jourbpnalists like her on staff. Teresa Wantanabe, Steve Lopez, Sandy Nanks, Jason Song and others have eagerly used their tepid skill set to further the agenda of Eli Broad , who is Feasy’s backer and a billionaire blight on the face of humanity. Hacks who abide the top down dictates of bullies Broad are understandable. Their kind staff Huff Post’s teacher bashing education section, scratching out barely coherent defamation about ridiculous accusation, propoganda that scapegoats teachers and praise for the likes of Michelle Rhee.the teacher hall of fame is always features on some post, reminding readers that teaching profession is full of perverts, slackers, incompetents, union reprobates and intoxicated losers who are money grubbing ingrates. I assume people eventually wonder why the Huff post has become hell bent on bashing the profession, but I can be misguided on that. Even the sacrifices of Sandy Hook heroes was downplayed.
I still get much information from these sources, especially the comments where teachers protest more eloquently and logically than these yellow journalists. I am very disappointed in only one education writer, and thatLAT Howard Blume.
You can rarely find journalists of his caliber these days. He writes the way reporters should write, seems to know what he is writing about and has an inherent credibility because he appears objective, there was a time when Blume was especially effective in exposing LAUSD copious corruption. This has given way to a spin that is subtle but still seriously bereft of objectivity and veracity. Why this talented man has become our enemy is anyone’s guess.
He told me he cannot take stories to the place he used to, but we were at a rally and I suspect he was scared of me when I confronted him about libeling teachers with dubious test data, district say so ad his own limited perceptions, I am probably not the first angry educator to confront him. But you know these journalists are probably being denied the ability to cover stories as deeply as they want to. But it is clear to me tha a lot of them enjoy their jobs and love sticking it to teachers,,
Yes, Valerie Strauss and Bill Turque were early defenders of teachers and the truth, but I was referring to the editorials and the print editions of the WP. Still, you are correct in stating that at least Strauss is allowed to keep on writing. In the old days, journalists would have exposed the fraud in DC schools in no time.
I can’t wait to read it!
Hey I put this on FB & Twitter because we must awaken the wealthy districts in our states to what is happening in urban districts. You think CT is wealthy, right? Well we have Bridgeport and Hartford etc where poverty is HIGH and charters are trying to muscle in on our tax dollars for the benefit of stock holders in the charter companies. This must stop or wealthy suburban districts will begin to see this happen to them.
I am definitely someone who likes honest dialogue more than hyperbole or emotional opinion; but when a friend recently told me our town did not need to worry about the threat of public school privatization I suggested that maybe thinking that was like thinking because of where you live you don’t need to wear a condom if not monogamous.
Sorry the crude analogy, but it was the only thing that made them even pause and listen to me about the possibility of public schools not being protected, necessarily, from the popular attraction towards charters, vouchers over a public school nearby that will welcome any child, and that will work to meet them where they are academically.
I too had felt insulated from crackpot ‘ed reform’ as a parent & taxpayer in a wealthy NJ suburb. However, now that Christie has brought in reformer & charter-school man Chris Cerf as Commissioner of Ed– not to mention their golden child shoo-in to replace Sen Lautenberg, privatizer Cory Booker– I am worried. My townfolk are sharp & likely to protest any steps which would undermine the tax base for our schools; even non-parents tend to link our outrageous taxes to stable hi-price housing market due in large part to high-quality public schools. However in recent yrs we have found the rug ripped out when trying to opt out of yet another level of state standardized testing, seen as expensive & useless by locals, yet state authority prevailed.
Our town has no significant industry to support tax base, it’s all property taxes. For decades we have been exporting tax $ to help support places like Newark, who are now using our $ to sell out public schools in favor of charters & cheap housing for TFA staffers as described by Jersey Jazzman. At present, net of latest state funding cuts, we pay for 96% of the local school budget from our property taxes. To my mind, the only place to go from here– if we wish to maintain the school system that supports our high-priced housing market– is secession.
Any chance your books will be available as audiobooks? I like listening
Sheila, yes, the book is being recorded right now
Is it being recorded with you superb voice? 😉
Are there any plans for international editions?
The book is being recorded right now by someone with a better voice than mine
The Washington Post is not the only major city newspaper that are shills for the corporate cabal against public education. The Denver Post BURIED the yearly test scores (TCAT) on the inside the paper…right up their with “man bites dog” stories.
NORMALLY, the scores were HEADLINE news…not TOO obvious who feathers their nest!
Come to DC to speak! You will have an audience, I assure you.
Thanks, I will speak in DC on October 18 at a lunch sponsored by the Economic Policy Institute. About 5, I will have a book-signing at Politics & Prose.
Noa, if you organize a meeting of parents and kids, I will speak to them in the afternoon.
“Reign” required reading even for those happy with their schools in communities that are willing to fund open public education. We must remain vigilant.”
This statement is beyond important. I feel this describes my school system right now. Yes … vigilance!