The Network for Public Education created a list of questions that journalists should ask the candidates. In this post on Salon.com, I explained NPE’s agenda to improve our public schools and to repel the corporate assault on them.
K-12 education issues, of huge importance to the future of our nation, were almost completely ignored in 2012. They should not be overlooked in 2016 because the very existence of public education is under attack. Billionaires hope to privatize urban districts, then move into the suburbs and elsewhere.
For those of us who believe that public education is a public responsibility, the time to become active is now.
We oppose the status quo of testing and privatization. We seek far better schools, equitable and well-resourced, where creativity and imagination are prized, not test scores. We seek equality of educational opportunity, not competition for scarce dollars.
Please join the Network for Public Education and help us build a new vision of education for each child.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
That was extraordinarily well written, Diane. Eloquent. I wouldn’t expect much from CNN, though.
Excellent
Very good.
I do take some umbrage at this though
“We oppose the transfer of public funds to privately managed charter schools unless those charter schools are dedicated to enrolling children with needs that public schools are unable to meet.”
I agree with the first part – the UNLESS though is problematic. It is unclear who these unreal gables for the public school are. more concerning, it makes it sound like it is ok to put charters into the corner that public schools are being put in – that being where those hard to reach youngsters are segregated from their deemed higher performing peers.
It sounds a bit like we are only ok with charters when they serve the role public schools are adopting now. Why is that system ok at all? Why not let public schools turn into the reach hard kids and charters teach the able?
This coming from a public school teacher who defends public schools.
Diane Ravitch continues to amaze. Her targeted questions comprehensively describe all of the attack fronts.
Dr. Ravitch, thank you very much for all of your questions and its background reasons.
Your questions are very concise in its own principle. Hopefully, all Presidential Candidates’ campaign managers will take it serious enough in order to advise Presidential Candidates how to articulate and to reflect their platform accordingly.
Thanks to heaven for blessing America to have you and your wisdom. May King
Dr. Ravitch’s efforts, on behalf of student education, are unrivaled. The work is primarily a testament to her dedication and skills. However, it takes a team to, day in, and day out, strive at the pace she does. Diane identified Mary as her team. So, a profound and heartfelt thanks to her.
Linda, thank you, you got that right!
May it be said, relating to billionaires privatizing our public schools
Bernie Sanders is the only one that I know of who has NOT accepted contributions from the superpacs, and billionaires. His contributors are ordinary people who give smaller amounts and thus should be less accountable to the billionaire classes.
Hillary has accepted money from the superpacs and that is her prerogative and accepting money does not necessarily indicate how they will act once in office but for me, as mentioned many times, education entails MANY aspects of society which affects the educational process.
For sure charters and all the rest are vitally important and that should not be minimized but again, are not the only issues affecting the educational process in my judgement.
Gordon–If Obama is any indication of what he said BEFORE his election & what he did AFTER the election (never did find those “walking shoes,” did he?)–TWICE (Arne, then John King-?)–we know the answer to the direction HRC would take, no matter what she says at the debates. (And I, for when, resent those empty, meaningless statements that, if nothing else, Bernie’s candidacy has pushed HRC “to the left.” So what? She’ll say whatever is popular to get elected (as will the others), & then we’ll feel the pain of her real, SuperPAC-bought agenda after. Ever hear the saying, “Talk is cheap?”
I’d add–election is expensive, & its outcome is total payback time for the one elected.
And, sorry, Diane, because I know Randi’s your friend, but I do not think the rank-&-file of either union wants her to be the Secretary of Education.
And not Lily Eskelsen Garcia, either.