Cathy Rubin interviewed several well-known educators and asked what they would do if they were Secretary of Education. I was one of them. Here is the interview. The interview was conducted about four or five years ago. I focused on the errors of the Bush-Obama agenda of test-and-punish. It was a bad idea in 2002, a worse idea in 2009, and today it is a proven failure.
If I were Secretary of Education, I would focus federal funding on greater resources for the neediest students. My theme would be equity and equality of educational opportunity. I would create a fund to promote increased desegregation. I would campaign for community schools and wraparound services. I would not fund privately managed charters. I would fund only charters that are created and supervised by school districts to meet needs. I would be a champion for the principles and values of public education and a champion for teachers.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I would ask you for a positive agenda for existing public schools. Which, incidentally, is what we were promised when this started under President Bush and continued under President Obama.
I read a lot of ed reformers and it is simply amazing how the one and only mention of public schools is “accountability”.
https://www.brookings.edu/research/an-evidence-based-voter-approved-policy-agenda-for-education/
Why would any child or parent in a public school be excited about this? It is literally 100% data collection and sanctions as far as PUBLIC schools. There’s something wrong with such a grim, joyless approach to public schools- there’s some bias or echo chamber effect operating here. I don’t know what it is- too many economists and MBA’s and CEO’s? Too many people who have an almost religious belief that public schools are businesses? Some kind of massive category error?
If this could become a reality, my vote for Hillary Clinton would actually be cast with enthusiasm!
Hope you’re not holding your breath. There are only three possible Clinton nominees for the position: the current occupant or one of the two union leaders doing so much to grease Hillary’s path to the presidency.
And before anyone mentions Trump, yes, yes, his appointees would be worse. But Trump being bad doesn’t make Hillary good.
I’m not holding my breath! Just clicking my ruby slippers.
Rubin asked the right person. Dr. Ravitch is the hardest working, most qualified, capable and, the person with the greatest insight into education’s value to democracy and its value in fostering economic growth.
If Ravitch became Secretary of Education, I would once again support Democratic politicians at the state and national levels. (Hear that, Sen. Sherrod Brown?)
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.
If Diane were Secretary of Education it could only mean that we had been magically transported to another country.
I was hoping you’d close down the Dept of Ed and leave education up to the States as our Founders/Constitution intended…
Does this need a tweak? “I would fund only charters that are created and supervised by school districts to meet needs.”
We just added a charter in Cincinnati. The school board approved it by a 6-0 vote. The charter school had no multi-year track record, but really splendid PR.
The “need” being met was for a school on one side of town. Existing buildings could not house the increased enrollments in those neighborhoods.
The approved school is part of a charter franchise that started in Indianapolis. The owners are a fan of TFA and getting economies of scale (and money) with technology.
Throughout Ohio, school districts that are governed by elected officials are outsourcing their obligations for “needs” (and also some wants), but with notoriously poor oversight of charters. The lack of oversight is embedded in state policy and determination of charters to be autonomous.
The irony is that citizens in Cincinnati approved money for a lot of new schools and for major rehabs in some neighborhood schools. This want not long ago.
Even so, the new charter school was approved, in part, because the marketers promised they could (and probably did) receive ample funding for a facility…thanks to the paths made available for financing by Congress, USDE, and private investors.
The “need” for this solution is also related to timing. The district is seeking a levy for operations of ischools, including enhanced wrap around services and for a preschool program.
Unlike many urban districts, enrollments in Cincinnati public schools has increased. Migration to charters has been limited (so far).
Even so, the privateers are at work with an “accelerator,” organized and operated by an unelected board. This small group is intent on making governance of education a matter of markets, but of course with public funding retained. They are claiming that an insufficient number of “high quality seats” are available for students. ( Add that to your eduspeak project).
I vote for you……Billy
Billy R. Reagan
(713) 795-9696
(832) 215-8877 cell
You are my heroine!!!brr
Billy R. Reagan
(713) 795-9696
(832) 215-8877 cell
Thanks, Billy, and thank you for welcoming me back to Houston public schools many years back
It seems to me that a “new vision” for American public education would de-emphasize the “college and career” focus and place democratic citizenship at the forefront of public schooling.
As Aristotle noted more than two millennia ago, “the character of democracy creates democracy.” In an era when voter suppression is rampant, knowledge and understanding of the Constitution are fleeting, and a major political party has nominated a bigot and racist as its presidential candidate, is there really any question that public education must take a new direction?
Horace Mann saw public education as “the balance-wheel of the social machinery” in a democratic society. University of Chicago social scientist Earl Johnson wrote that “the supreme end of education in a democracy is the making of the democratic character.” Gordon Hullfish and Philip Smith considered the development of critical intelligence –– “reflective reconstruction of knowledge, insights and values” –– essential to the maintenance of a democratic society.
So what values might be involved? The Constitution provides the answer: popular sovereignty, equality, justice, tolerance, freedoms for all citizens, and promoting the general welfare of the nation.
“It seems to me that a “new vision” for American public education would de-emphasize the “college and career” focus and place democratic citizenship at the forefront of public schooling.”
Got my vote on that.
The “College and Career Ready” focus was and continues to be a public relations blitz of huge proportions. At first it was just “College Ready”, but that was just too over the top. So just add a teaspoon of “Career” and an acceptable broth is served to the American public.
Would you be willing to serve as Secretary of Education, Diane? We could start and advertise a petition to whoever is elected (please not The Duck) respectfully requesting your assignment.
Unfortunately, you may be the only person who understands the need for these ideas and who has the strength, willpower, experiences and knowledge to successfully implement the necessary changes in order to create this vision. Who do we contact to submit your name for Secretary of Education?
Thank you for your endless energy and assiduously researching and evaluating educational policies and best practices and sharing your conclusions and thoughts with us.