Should a First Lady go sleeveless? Should she show bare arms in public? These questions were raised in 2009 because First Lady Michelle Obama audaciously exposed her arms.
The conservative media went berserk!
Shocking! Inappropriate! How dare she! Utterly classless!
What does the conservative media say about Melania Trump? She bares her arms and her legs. Sometimes she packs heat, which should please the NRA.
Actually they don’t say anything at all.
Double standard, anyone?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I thought this was a blog about charter school reform. I think ms ravitch should stick to that topic and STOP telling people how to vote, how she’s going to vote, and avoid anything it that’s unrelated or irrelevant to charter & public schools debates. I’m starting to think this lady might actually be another one of their amazing ‘plants’. Double agents really cloud the water and there are MANY of them. I’m growing tired of the propaganda & disinformation. The multilayered hidden agendas are becoming cumbersome to navigate. These issues are difficult enough. I think political statements specifically about presidential candidates or Michelle Obama’s bare arms, is a ridiculous waste of everyone’s time. Stay in the lane please, or I’ll stop reading your blog.
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Victorialocke,
It is my blog and I write what I want.
I don’t tell anyone who to vote for.
I said who I would vote for because that’s my right as a citizen. It is your right to vote for someone else or not to vote at all. It is also your right not to read this blog.
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Why don’t you post my comment ms ravitch
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Your comment was posted.
As was my response.
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victorialocke seems like a petulant and cumbersome channel to navigate.
Dr. Ravitch seems intelligent, insightful, knowledgeable, capable of making a cohesive whole out of disparate parts, and excellent at verbal and written communication. She introduces readers, like me, to vital, fascinating, and/or thoughtful information. Her life reflects accomplishment (26,000,000, blog views), invitations from the most important education influencers, and books written with extraordinary
talent.
Just a thought.
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Linda, please add in OBSERVANT to your descriptive. Maybe you are dogmatic and complacent, as well. I am entitled to my opinion… The more I read – the more I am starting to think that Ms. Ravitch is everything you just mentioned AND a PLANT directly from the Charter School geniuses to tell and slant the story the way THEY want it told. They have brilliant people playing BOTH sides – haven’t you noticed? Exactly where is the funding coming from – that enables Ms. Ravitch to blog all day? She’s certainly not doing it for free. Did she get a nice big government GRANT or even better – does she have a “non-profit” subsidy? How smart of them, yet again! Such a great way to control the opposing arguments by having their own clandestine people go out ahead before anyone else – pretending to be the opposition -and start discussions and blogs. Establishing regulating agencies with amazing acronyms that only ADVISE are another red flag too. Seems like I hit a nerve, doesn’t it? Thou protests TOO much… Think about it people. Critical thinking or opposition of any kind (at public meetings and HERE as well) & everybody gets pious and piles on. I think there should also be CRITICAL THINKING taught in Charter Schools and how to spot CORRUPTION and deceit. Kids can’t defend themselves against this kind of amazing psychology. She’s trying to subtly tell us what to think. No need to continue employing WWII tactics… this is a forum of OPINIONS. Remediation’s over. Has anyone tried to connect Ms. Ravitch directly to some of the Charter power players? Somebody credible SHOULD..
WordPress.com / Gravatar.com credentials can be used.
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Oh for pity’s sake, Victoria, do you know who Dr. Ravitch is? Funding? Please. She was Assistant Secretary of Education, a professor at NYU, in addition to a number of other posts, and she’s published several books, the most recent two of which have been overwhelming best sellers. She’s in her late 70s and has all the money she will ever need. Do some research before you come in here throwing stones.
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Would this be the Victoria locke who is Director of Sampling at Pearson?
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Chris in Florida,
Thanks for your research
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I wonder if Victoria is coming back? This was fun.
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You deserve yourselves…. and the problems you’re creating “noreformneeded”. Your grand kids are gonna feel it, not you. How many of your family and friends are signed up for city contracts & bogus “non-profits” while telling everyone how much you’re “helping” the “under-served, disenfranchised” little people?
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Whatever Vicky is smoking, drinking, injecting or mind melding into, let me at it.
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Maybe everyone’s “under the influence”, but “Joe” here, huh?. Maybe he’s an “authority figure with a government pension… at least I have the guts to use my real name. Attempting to marginalize me, doesn’t change the facts.
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VictoriaLocke,
As you see, I also use my name as does Diane. Sometimes it takes wordpress a while to post a post. There have been times that things that I know I have posted haven’t shown up, but from what I can tell it’s a wordpress issue and not Diane trying to censor anyone. I appreciate that you use your name.
As I am currently reading/studying the current and prior two testing bibles put out by APA, AERA & NCME and other defenses of standardized testing I would be interested to know more about your position as Director of Sampling (if that is indeed your position). Please contact me at dswacker@centurytel.net.
Perhaps I can learn more about the whole testing process from your perspective.
TIA,
Duane
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After I first read, Dr. Ravitch’s blog posts, and ever since, I’ve thought how fortunate the nation is to have her wise counsel. I recognize that the blog she created is a gift that reflects sacrifice on her part. I feel lucky to have the opportunity to learn from her posts and those of others. Making insinuations about the blog host. criticizing her and her choice of topics, self-describing as “growing tired”, which reflects the language of a parent scolding a child, are indicators of a person who has a sense of entitlement. The sense of entitlement is common among reformers and absent in Dr. Ravitch.
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Duane,
If a Pearson testing employee contacts you, will you please ask her to explain the repercussions that Dr. Stroup, of the University of Texas, experienced after testifying in the state capitol about Pearson testing? Thanks.
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Here is a new New Yorker article on some of this blather.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all?mbid=nl_160718_Daily&CNDID=20028046&spMailingID=9217394&spUserID=MTIwNDQ2Mjk3ODU5S0&spJobID=961427027&spReportId=OTYxNDI3MDI3S0
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Insulting and inane commands such as “[s]tay in the lane please, or I’ll stop reading your blog” [along with a host of vituperative labels and inane assertions] are not just disrespectful but are carefully chosen to distort, derail, and close down conversation.
There’s a name for those that engage in such behavior. As per Wikipedia:
[start]
In Internet slang, a troll (/ˈtroʊl/, /ˈtrɒl/) is a person who sows discord on the Internet by starting arguments or upsetting people, by posting inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room, or blog) with the deliberate intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[2] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion,[3] often for their own amusement.
[end]
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll
Someone who is genuinely interested in convincing others of her/his POV doesn’t come into the online equivalent of someone’s living room [figuratively] throwing elbows and rabbit punches at all and sundry without provocation. Rather, they give respect to get respect, which signals the intention of actually trying to convince others of some genuinely held POV.
As others have mentioned: no one is forced to read the postings and threads of this blog. Anyone can start a blog of her/his own. Don’t like what you read here, go elsewhere.
I leave it to others to decide what course of action best suits them, but I have noticed that trolls desperately seek, and thrive on, attention of any kind.
Just like the shills and beneficiaries of corporate education reform furiously seek, and thrive on, $tudent $ucce$$.
So as one possible reaction among several I can think of, deny them the attention they crave. Another approach: point out the terribly self-wounding double standards they employ in trying to slander those working for a “better education for all.”
Mahatma Gandhi comes to mind in this instance:
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
Updated version: “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they troll you, then you win.”
😎
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This is the internet, where respect is old-fashioned….people tell it like they THINK it is…like Trump
Such honesty… of course, these straight-talking folks think the voice they hear so clearly in their head IS the truth, not some world-view shaped by a total lack information or a plethora of mis-information.
BTW did you see this one… Interesting take on false equivalencies and ‘balancing the news’ http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/18/opinion/both-sides-now.html?ref=international&_r=0
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““helping” the “under-served, disenfranchised” little people?” Are you channeling John Fallon or Sir Michael Barber with those quotes? They may actually believe their rhetoric. It seems like you though have disdain for the little people.
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Diane Ravitch is a charter school plant?
I think that is the best laugh I’ve had all day, and I like to laugh.
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TC, those charter school billionaires are so very clever.
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And Mike Pence is a plant for saving public schools and stopping the privatization and profiteering of America’s half trillion a year public education system…
Wouldn’t that be nice.
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And Bernie Sanders is a plant to advance control of the U.S. by the 1%.
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Gosh, Michelle Obama showing her “guns?” That should please the NRA, no?
On Mon, Jul 18, 2016 at 12:01 PM, Diane Ravitchs blog wrote:
> dianeravitch posted: “Should a First Lady go sleeveless? Should she show > bare arms in public? These questions were raised in 2009 because First Lady > Michelle Obama audaciously exposed her arms. The conservative media went > berserk! Shocking! Inappropriate! How” >
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The right to bare arms.
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FLERP!:
TAGO!
😎
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I used to have such high respect for you but the Trump candidacy has brought out the absolute worst behavior in you. You are worse than the the people you criticize: Petty, catty and shallow.
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Trump does that to people. Imagine him as President.
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My dear superb educator, beloved mom and grandmother. friend, Diane….
I still love and respect you, even though I occasionally disagree with you.
And I can understand your angst at the thought of a Trump Presidency, and having a ‘ trampy’ nude model as First Witch in the WH.
Would that Trump’s first and second wives could take the stage tonight and enlighten the world about this whack job egomaniac “who would be KIng.” We would hear about how he raped the first one, and degraded the second, how he has always cheated everyone as much as he could, and all for money, with some sex and depravity thrown in. How he hung out with the lowest vermin lkie Roy Cohb, and how he avoids paying his bills to the ‘little people,’ but has as a lifetime butler, a guy named Senecal who runs Miralago, who urges that Obama be murdered, and all colored people and Jews also be annihilated.
Trump and Wife #3, are a disaster. Let’s hope that the rational members of the Repubs can find a way to dump them. I would settle for Ryan at this point…but not for Cruz nor Rubio…nor Pence.
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I don’t need this, Ms. Ravitch. Your blog isn’t about helping Public Schools. I wasn’t expecting that. And someone like Ellen Lubic to call ME a troll, when she’s the biggest one running her well-connected, insider – Jewish American Princess mouth right now about TRUMP? I think not. I’ll keep going to School Board meetings and doing my thing where I can. Those people aren’t looking for any real dialog – they want a punching bag. I don’t think your angle is a pristine as they all think. Who knows. If I’m wrong, I’m wrong. But from my own personal experience, there’s always a multi-layered underbelly connected with this. I’ve unsubscribed. May you continue enjoying the “love in” in your honor. It’s more of the manufactured Truman Show, as far as I’m concerned, so what’s the point? Judging by the reaction I got – I’m right on the money. Victoria Locke
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“I don’t need this, Ms. Ravitch. Your blog isn’t about helping Public Schools. I wasn’t expecting that.”
I recommend filing a lawsuit and wearing a neck brace in public. You have the right to read blogs without getting waylaid by posts that you do not expect to see. This is America!
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Farewell, Virgnia Locke.
Anti-Semitism is not tolerated in this blog. You left before I could block you.
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Roy Cohn..that is
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If Trump had chosen Gingrich, the party of family values, would have had 2 candidates with 6 wives between them.
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Linda, now it is only 2 candidates with four wives between them and 3 were Trump’s.
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Oops, a little bit of the anti-semitic hatred slipped out there, Victoria. I amtruly flummoxed as to the cause of all thsi drama but I wish you well.
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Chris in Florida: re your comment of 7-18-16, 7:43 PM—
I noticed the same venomous (and completely uncalled for) anti-semitic remark.
Said commenter has, IMHO, totally discredited her/himself. There are other websites that welcome such hatred. This isn’t one of them.
☹️
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It is always shocking to read anti-Semitic remarks, especially in a blog populated mostly by teachers. Shame on you, Victoria. At least have the sense to pause before you write or speak.
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I have to add my absolute disgust at your antisemitic comments, Victoria. You have to right to not read this blog, and the right to not post in it. Please avail yourself of those rights.
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For what it’s worth, I didn’t see any links to stories by the “conservative media” about Michelle Obama’s sleevelessness. I just saw links to comments that “Virginia Voter Bobbie Lussier” made in an NPR interview. Someone should ask Bobby Lussier what he thinks about Melania Trump, though, so we can see if he’s a hypocrite.
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Flerp, I love your 7/18 1:52 PM comment RE: the right to “bare arms.”
I once found a post card w/a drawing of a bear & the title, “The right to BEAR arms.” I gave this to the 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher to use as a flashcard for study purposes for the 8th Grade Constitution Test (which they had to pass to graduate–a test that made sense, tested knowledge, & which was quickly graded, for immediate student feedback)–unlike the PARCC.
Sigh–those were the FUN days of teaching/learning.
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go here and look at photos of the possible first lady’s bare body parts and this is at he site, an d not the nude photos one sees in the media https://www.pinterest.com/explore/melania-trump-jewelry/
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We all need to lighten up. This blog is still overwhelmingly about education and it’s so-called “reform”. Diane can throw in a few other topics here and there if she wants to. I am fine with it. Steve Ruis (above) has the right idea.
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I wish the MSM and both sides of the duopoly would make as biog of a fuss over the venal presidential cabinet picks (Arne Duncan & Joh King, anybody?) as they do to bare arms. Ditto for the Gulenistas and the school Rheephorm movement.
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I don’t really care about Mrs. Obama’s sleeveless dresses–it’s the style. She has great arms as does Mrs. Trump. It’s just not on my radar! Who cares!
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Off topic. The Roosevelt Institute recently published research findings about the U.S. economy. Without the financial sector’s drag on the economy (which Roosevelt details at Truthout), the typical American family would have twice as much wealth at retirement, as they are expected to have, extrapolating current conditions.
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this really dates me, but i remember the nuns going crazy about Jackie Kennedy’s bare arms on the cover of either a Life or a Look magazine – I took it to school & was made to put it away because the photo wasn’t appropriate! That was over 50 years ago, & today we are worried about bare arms? And yet, Melania can be half nude & that’s ok? This whole Trump candidacy is one hot mess & scary!
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formercheesehead,
it is kinda funny that Trump is the evangelicals’ candidate. They don’t seem to care about his lifestyle, his casinos, his flamboyance, etc.
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Diane…someone above mentions the Roosevelt Institute, and I am old enough to remember Eleanor Roosevelt…not a gorgeous woman out side, but a truly honorable woman of high intelligence and empathy who did so much good for Americans.
And now we see a nude model from a foreign country portrayed as potential First Lady. The title does not befit Melania no matter how she poses in her Golden Palace in the most expensive designer clothes. She will always be no more than a female from Slovenia who sold her body image for cash. Disgusting what politics and our country have come to.
And this is only day one of the Repub Convention. Whew.
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Dr. Ravitch,
I read your blog every day, and your words of wisdom are inspiring. You certainly have the right to post anything you’d like, and it is ridiculous for anyone to suggest otherwise. You have given parents who opt out of high stakes testing the confidence to do so. You base your opinions on research and data, and talk to parents, teachers and students. I wish you were the secretary of education. Thank you for writing daily and supporting the people who want the best for all children in the country.
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I loved the photo shoots! Lighten up folks! We have enough debatable topics.
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I read both Serena Williams and Gabby Douglas, two women at the top of the athletic pyramid, have received blow back about their muscular appearance too They should be proud of their muscles including Mrs. Obama; they have earned them. As for Mrs. Obama’s other choices, I applaud them. Critics should understand we are in the twenty-first century, and Mrs. Obama has done an admirable job as first lady.
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The media seems to have forgotten that Jacqueline Kennedy wore sleeveless dresses and she was considered to be a very classy dresser.
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The point here folks is that Michelle Obama is a woman who went to Harvard Law School and is a person of high accomplishment in her own right…it is not about her arms. But comparing Michelle’s and Jackie’s naked arms to Melani’s naked ass is a world apart.
Melania Trump from Slovenia is a woman who has only made money off selling her naked image for cash and she is also, as we have learned lately, an a virulent anti Semite and an attacker of a well respected journalist who wrote about this really quite revolting woman who wants to be First Lady. All the make up plastered on her face does not make her intelligent nor respectable.
George Bush, who was not my fave by a long shot, has an accomplished lovely wife who is modest and intelligent, and is a school librarian. So Repubs as well as Dems have given us accomplished and respectable First Ladies.
Not so with Trump who can only offer his naked model wife to lead off his candidacy. Also some third rate actors with be speaking tonight. Look to the company he keeps.
I think Diane makes a good point. This is a dangerous and unfit candidate to run our nation…and he is making us the laughing stock of the world. He has NO boundaries. He uses his daughter to garnish Jewish voters, but she is not reflective of REAL Jewish women. Trump uses everyone who is willing to sell their souls for his personal goals.
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We’ve made OURSELVES the laughing stock of the world, haven’t we?.
Instead of this “arm” topic….. yesterday, there was a big coup attempt linked to Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic Cleric who is hiding out in PA – possibly subsidized by grants and funding he’s received from this government through his numerous charter schools. I think people reading your blog might like to know more about that. I would. How did Gulen land in PA? He had lots of help. There have been reports that he was assisted by former employees at the CIA. That would be a fantastical fact, if proven true. Does his presence here have anything to do with our relations with Israel? So, instead of meaningful discussions about Gulen, after the major events in Turkey, yesterday… today we’re focusing on the merits of First Ladies bare arms? Like many people have posted here, it’s off topic & irrelevant. The Gulen story has global implications that should be explored, unless of course the subject’s a little too hot. Ms. Ravitch…. What are the broader implications of Gulen’s influence in this country, do you have a theory? What might his agenda be? He’s acquired ridiculous wealth via his charter schools, right? Why did the U.S. government allow him into this country, and then – after all the controversy – grant him a permanent Visa? Did the DOJ ever make a determination about the motivation behind the free travel trips he gave to some members in Congress? Is the US government still granting Visas for his Turkish cronies to come to this country to teach ENGLISH – under the guise that English speaking teachers here aren’t doing a very good job of it? This guy owns schools where more than 35,000 US school children are being taught every day.This “arm” post seems like a gratuitous distraction, and it’s hard to understand, really, with such serious matters being reported in the mainstream media today. There’s a big global agenda, it seems. What is it? What’s the “subtext” regarding Gulen?
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Victoria: Gulen was discussed at great length in this very blog on many occasions. Diane’s blog is very fast paced and covers a lot of material (usually), from the trivial to the crucial/monumental/important in the course of a day. I’m surprised that you are back since you consider Diane to be some kind of plant or Manchurian Candidate which is a very silly notion.
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Again, Victoria, really, take my advice and do some research. Diane has been covering Gulen since before you graduated from high school (which, judging from your comments, wasn’t that long ago).
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victoria please check
or
for columns within the last few days – we cover it all here!
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victoria – better yet! i just did a post search for gulen columns – here are all of them!
https://dianeravitch.net/?s=gulen
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Whoever you really are, Victor/Victoria…you seem to be a Trump plant here and are not a follower of Diane Ravitch, the leading proponent of public education in the US. Nor have you bothered to read the multitude on posts on the Gulen Movement, Gulen charter schools, and the Turkish coup, over the past few days, and the past few years.
You are a troll planted here to try to do damage…but you can’t. Too many of us know exactly what is written here and have been readers and writers here, and at many online media sites, for years.
We have real verifiable creds….you are just a whacko non de plume and have NO business here with your nonsense. Go away.
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Joe & Dienne….who are you people, anyway? I was addressing Ms. Ravitch. She can respond, if she’d like – or not. So, anyone new to this forum gets belittled and hazed for voicing a new or dissenting opinion? How intelligent & progressive. You don’t think that SOMETHING should be acknowledged about the Turkey Gulen issue TODAY, “fast-paced” blog – or NOT? Gimme a break! I’m 52 years old, Dienne, and how rude are you? Address me as “grasshopper” next time, please. That’s what I don’t like….. condescending “cliques” of incestuous know-it-all’s – with issues SO big, they can’t even consider other ideas. If you’re here to defend and blow smoke, you’re doing a bang up job, folks – but no brownie points from me. To consider that someone – in their 70’s or not – who worked for the government may be corrupted – is a real outrageous idea. That we might be lied to or misled by some one with some bullet-proof credentials working for the government, far-fetched, I know. I don’t know anything for sure, but I put it out there as a consideration. Some of these “charter” players have so much credibility, no one ever dares to entertain alternate scenarios. I’ve witnessed some of the tactics used in my area, first-hand – by such “credible” people – you never see it coming. Well, the Jungian “tricksters” are among us, that should at least be acknowledged and considered. There’s enough corruption surrounding this “charter” school ripoff – that within 10 years I think they’re going to win. Once there’s a monopoly and public schools have been completely destroyed, they’ll be free to herd middle & lower income kids into blue collar jobs with the critical thinking capabilities of gnats.& then even bigger oppression and exploitation. They’ve got a lock on the media now. You have to watch news feeds from other countries to really know what’s happening globally. Whatever. It’s not going to matter what any of us thinks about any of it. Like almost everything, it’s already been decided. The billionaires are going finish conquering the world, like it or not. Yeah, Linda… “this is fun”, the “mob mentality” here is a lot of fun. Questioning the status quo and the powers that be – whether it seems asinine to you or not – is valid. Sorry to have interrupted the mutual admiration society. I’m starting to think that “home schooling” might be the way to go…..
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Sorry, but when you show up here clearly not knowing whose living room you’re in, you’re going to get some condescension. You’re the one who’s brand new around here, seems incumbent on you to introduce yourself. The rest of us know who Diane is.
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“There’s enough corruption surrounding this “charter” school ripoff – that within 10 years I think they’re going to win. Once there’s a monopoly and public schools have been completely destroyed, they’ll be free to herd middle & lower income kids into blue collar jobs with the critical thinking capabilities of gnats.& then even bigger oppression and exploitation. They’ve got a lock on the media now. You have to watch news feeds from other countries to really know what’s happening globally.”
I’m really curious what it is you think you’re arguing with Diane about anyway? Do you think she’s a charter supporter? There are 4+ years of posts in the archives to disabuse you of that notion. And if you’re looking for news from other countries, especially as it pertains to global education “reform” (or GERM), Diane’s blog is one of the best places to get it. Your anger at her is really bizarre.
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Ellen, this is Victor/Victoria. I wouldn’t vote for Trump if I was paid to. But I looked you up and – you my dear – are the plant. All the hallmarks are there…I could go into them, but I won’t. Duck, duck.. GOOSE. Thanks, for popping up from the ooze.
I thought this blog was for people who OPPOSE Charter schools and are trying to save the public school system. It’s only taken a few hours of my time for me to see…this is a site for charter school – “trolls”, as Ellen so eloquently put it – to find out who’s who. It’s a forum to trash Trump – the idiot that he is – doesn’t really need this much help, does he? But he might put an end to some of the hand-outs and nobody wants that. I get it. Smoke & mirrors. Wow…. what a nightmare…..another “charter” lesson. They just never seem to end…
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Yes, Victoria…i am easy to validate. Anyone can read my articles. I am quite weil known in my So.California community where I have lived, attended public schools and public university, and worked most of my lifetime.
You, however, seem to be a paranoid person, possibly deranged, and totally unknown to me. Verify yourself with some dossier and photos, since most us who are educators here are able to do this.
We do not know if you are male or female, where you are, what you do for a living, what actual academic credentials you have, or don’t have, and what your motives are for attacking Diane Ravich, and others of us.
Otherwise, don’t waste our time. I will not engage with you until you verify yourself…since you really seem unhinged.
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FLAP? Hilarious. BLOOP would have been funnier, but FLAP is still funny. The more this sham of a political convention is mocked-for-what-it-is the better.
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I about choked on my Cheerios this morning when a Trump PR person stated on Fox News that Melania Trump would be such a great speaker on family values in Cleveland. When did the conservatives embrace nude centerfold modeling as being a family value?
And I’m really glad to see the racist .trump supporters out themselves in these comments. Know your enemies! Thanks, Diane.
http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/donald-trump-melania-trump-knauss-first-lady-erections
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Chris…once again you have expanded my, our, education with your link to the many naked photos of high flying, totally nude, Melania, now Trump, who does all this for money. This anti Semitic Slovenian is surely someone to be proud of if you have only half a brain which has dead prefrontal lobes.
As a First Lady for America, she appears more like an obscene trollop with a very nasty and mean face. Looks like she will enjoy wearing shoes made from human skin…rather like the infamous Bitch of Buchenwald. Thanks for the link.
She must have been coached for many weeks to deliver the “brilliant”: speech she will give this evening at the Repub convention. And BTW, every waiter in Europe speaks 5 – 6 languages…surely not a big deal. What is said is of far more importance…and for that, there is a need for intelligence, education, and class.
Compare her even to Hillary Clinton who, as First Lady, was a Yale Law School grad, and served as a well respected attorney even though I disagree with much that she did/does. She could speak to leaders fully clothed, for she had a sharp and educated brain, not just a pair of phony mammary glands and must flaunt her naked self for attention and for cash.
And thanks Diane for opening this up for public discussion. If Trump is the best the Repubs, and the lowest form of Right Wing voters, have to offer, we are sincerely in deep cow dung. Gives us all a chance to vent.
And people here want to vilify Rafe Esquith for merely quoting the word “Nude” from Mark Twain.
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Yes, I found it interesting that the party that spouted the phrase “family values” in prior elections now has Trump–after all, he has three families.
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I bet if any of your daughters could speak 6 languages and wished to be a model or fashion designer you wouldn’t trash them the way you’re speaking about Melanie Trump. She is so above all of you on this blog.
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Yes, Trump and his family have never trashed people, have they? Above us? LOLOLOLOLOLOL
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You’re kidding, yes? I don’ t care how many languages my daughters were able to speak. My oldest–at 16—-is already a vocal advocate against the objectification of women. This comes down to a candidate who speaks of family values and morality who has been married, and cheated, several times and has a wife who makes money selling pictures of her body. She is welcome to do that. It’s her right. But not as the representative of MY country, please.
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Carlene,
If my daughter posed like that and then married a twice divorced man 25 years older than her for his money, .for it certainly wasn’t for his intellect or his looks; I would be extremely disappointed in her . Its not the modeling, it’s not the marriage , it’s the whole package.
By the way three of the five languages were learned as a young child .. No great feat as a linguist will tell you .Though it is not the field of anthropology that I studied. But I would like to see how well she speaks Spanish. She clearly struggles a bit with English.
And like her phony husband her degree would seem to have been issued by Trump U.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/melania-trump-college-claims_us_578dd95ce4b0c53d5cfac0dc
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Trump somehow missed the boat here. His campaign should have been at least one reality TV show. Because it already is.
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Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.
Is that ALL that people care about or even a priority for “educated” people?
How about issues that are promoted or not promoted?
Bare arms and legs? Do these people not go to the beach.
In Europe I saw people sun bathing nude, completely.
Bare bodies are a cultural thing. In Africa and in South America some native cultures in the hot climates the only thing that women wear above their waists are beads or some such ornaments.
Are these people making thjis an issue so ignorant that they are unaware of these cultural differences. Of course we have our own cultural values
but
again
Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.
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This nonsense will never end. Women are still expected to adhere to absurd cultural standards of “beauty” that cripple millions of girls and young women, leading some to eating disorders and obsessions with weight, holding off any signs of natural aging, and shaving body hair like it was some sort of plague. If men were held to similar standards, many would start to grasp the insanity that they demand women live under.
Maybe some “first gentleman” will get it and help fuel another sort of political revolution. I won’t be holding my breath for it to happen in the upcoming administration if HRC wins, however.
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Thank you Dr. Ravitch for your impartial judgment.
Your website has shown that there are many educated people without cultivation, but gullibility and ignorant of history through their NONSENSICAL supports of Trump’s egoistic and hatred view in multicultural society either intentionally or accidentally..
I wonder that American acclaimed FREEDOM of expression ideology would begin to end soon in greedy and maniac dictatorship style.
I respect your decision to allow people whose views are expressed completely ignorantly. I would prefer them to read and only to write with a logical observation and argument with factual and well known events in their lives or in history. Otherwise, please delete their ignorant and opinionated views.
This will save all conscientious viewers a bit of hope for the future of TRUE democracy in America without abuse. Back2basic
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There is a infamous picture of the current Donald Trump trophy wife posing on the wing of a Trump airliner wearing only spike heels, a skimpy top, and a thong! Where is the Radical Republican Christian Conservatives when they are needed to call a slut a slut?
So far they have just gone to the RNC to nominate her husband. I bet some of their leaders hope to be able to touch Mrs. Trump!
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Their motto: “Make American Great Again” in conserving contrarianism. LOL
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I have often wondered what wold happen if we had a First Gentleman in the White House. Would he give up his day job to support his wife, Mrs. President? Would he be in charge of the tea menu for heads of state? Would he be the one to pick new curtains for the White House? How about deciding on the Christmas decor theme? Which “children’s issue” would he choose to support? Would we all discuss the fit of his suits and the particular tie he chose? How about his new hairdo? Would it be news? Hopefully, if it is Mr. Clinton as first gentleman, he will spare us the bare arms and too short shorts. 🙂
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I wasn’t going to respond to this post but. . .
Who gives a shit about her. I never cared one hoot about the wife/husband of the person for whom I give my vote. The spouse is irrelevant for me.
And why supposedly god-fearing amurikans get so upset over a little skin, well let’s just say get over your fear and squeamishness. Realize it has nothing to do with the political process. Ay ay ay ay ay.
Like the Braniff ads exhorted: Vuela en cuero(s).
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Hi señor Swacker:
I am worrying that some young, handsome spies or pimps will get a bribery from Russia, China, or North Korea try to get lusty wife of an old man for nuclear CODE in White House as a piece of cake.
Like you, who really cares lusty woman to wear or to be naked?
However, if you agree with me that generally speaking, your partner will show your true identity and vice versa, then the spouse is quite important in what to do with the political process. Ay ay ay ay ay.
Who knows that both Trump and Melania work together to sell her body for power and money in mutual agreement! We would know, but it is too late because we are dead or suffering, huhuhu…May
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Interesting, May, but I’m not worried about that scenario at all. I’m not even worried about the Trumpster getting elected. But then again I wasn’t worried about a B actor being elected in 1980 and we saw what happened with that–Ketchup being considered a vegetable!! LOL!!
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For all the pearl clutchers who came here to chastize Diane for writing this post I suggest you Google “MIchelle Obama Memes” and see the vile filth that the conservative, Tea Party Republicans, aided and abetted by Fox News and the rightwing media pundits have unleashed on this accomplished, successful woman.
Of course some of you will agree with and believe the disgusting racist, transphobic, classist, anti-religious excrement heaped upon the First Lady. But I think some of you may be shocked that she still has the strength, courage, and inner conviction to smile and look ahead under such barbaric attacks.
They started before her husband was elected and they have intensified like a growing cancer of hate.
She deserves nothing but admiration surviving this unholy whirlwind of abuse.
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YES…very well stated Chris..thanks.
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Chris
I voted for Obama twice was thoroughly disappointed after the first term . But the one thing I will give him is that him and his family have conducted themselves in an exemplary manner.
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Look I just left Stop common Core NY FB , some of these people are wearing tin foil .
But perhaps its better to have Trump the rest of the crowd were brewing this bigotry and intolerance for years . They just kept it kept it right under the surface.
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Edit one kept it
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Forget about the bare arms issue, how about the plagierism issue? As an educator I am horrorfied that large parts of Trump’s wife’s speech were lifted from Michelle Obama’s 2008 Dem Con speech!! And no attribution!! Disgraceful!!! And frightening that this will become the standard- ethically and morally bankrupt
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And Trump’s campaign is essentially laughing it off–blaming Clinton somehow for this (?), and saying that the ideas are the same, so it doesn’t matter that the words are the same Chris Christie gave the most convoluted defense on CNN a bit ago.
Meanwhile, I don’t accept those kinds of arguments from my 8th graders–who are expected to attribute sources and even then only quote one sentence. The rest MUST be in the students’ own words. So apparently I have higher standards for attribution than a presidential candidate.
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“Should a First Lady go sleeveless?”
Only in America….and the Middle East. 🙂
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YEP!
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The new flap is plagiarism and education.
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Sorry that they didn’t run it through “scanmyconvetionspeech.com”
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Do they want her to wear a burkha? Or what???
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Hi Diane and all readers,
I know I am late to this thread, but it seemed an appropriate place to comment. My husband and I are finishing a month-long vacation in Guadalajara, Mexico. I wanted to share my impressions, within my limited understanding, of the Ed reform movement here. There is a large tent set up in the Governor’s Plaza , covered with signs about freeing the teachers in Oaxaca, some were arrested there, and other information about the changes in progress. They also play recordings of speeches given in Oaxaca. We’ve seen marches on three weekends, but mostly, people passing by seem to ignore the protest. My Spanish is very limited, but the newspaper articles I’ve read seem to be along the lines of the standard Reform speak. They write about raising standards and equalizing them across the country. We spoke with a teacher today, trying to communicate how many similar things are happening in the USA. The teachers are protesting a change from permanent certification to a process of re-certification (within 4 years) with tests. This did not seem to harsh to us since we have gone through re-certification requirements through our entire teaching careers and those requirements have changed every time. The teacher stressed that she would lose her job if she didn’t pass the “test”, but would get no raise if she did. When I mentioned the name, “Pearson” she seemed to know the company.
Guadalajara is full of schools. We are right by the University of Guadalajara, but we’ve also seen many private schools. I’ve counted about 6 cooking schools nearby. Almost every business has help wanted signs up and I’ve counted about a half a dozen employment offices nearby. I as given a slip of paper with information about free classes to obtain certification. With my limited Spanish, I’m not sure if this is to help the current teachers or help get rid of them. I want to type the information on the slip (without the proper accents) “Unico programa de Areditacion de certificacion del Ano, la Secretaria de Educacion Publica por conducto de las Subsecretaria de Education Media Superior convoca a los ciudadanos a acreditar y obtener su certificado de nivel basico (secundaria) y medio superior (preparatoria) … PROGRAMA NACIONAL PARA ACREDITAR Y OBTENER SU CERTIFICADO HASTA EN 16 SESIONES, ESTE PROGRAMA ES PUBLICO…”
And finally, we drove down and have only met helpful and kind people. I practice my limited Spanish by telling them that I hate Donald Trump.
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How does Pearson feel about Victoria Locke’s comments and behavior here? Do her posts prove the Pearson is everywhere? What a turdburgler.
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