Thanks to reader Cathere Blanche King for finding the link to my appearance on the Tavis Smiley show on PBS.
http://www.pbs.org/video/2365959312/
Tavis is a terrific interviewer, very smart, well-informed, and it was a great pleasure to talk to him. We taped the show on February 13, and it was released on February 17.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Diane: It was a friend of mine who let me know of the Tavis Smiley interview. I thought you covered the points well. Also, the connection of charters and privatization to racism I thought was clear and convincing and you gave the argument for public education’s connection with democracy.
The only thing I thought was missing, and it may have been intentional on your part, was the multiple motivations of Devos, religious, curricular, and economic, which are all a matter of record: Religious from her own statements; both religious and curricular if we can assume her connection with the letter and other literature from the Council and its planning; and economic, as wall street investments increase and as billionaires make money on the backs of children’s education.
Hats off to Smiley who really knew his stuff.
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Also, if you didn’t actually say “Devos bought the office,” it would take a real dunce not to figure it out for themselves from how the interview went.
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Diane,
Watching this gave me an idea: what if there were something like ALEC for progressive and liberal legislation?
I am definitely not the person to create or run it, but I think it could become a powerful tool for resistance. Any ideas for people to lead such a charge?
Thank you for all that you do!
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ALEC is fueled by big corporate contributions. I know of no such funding on our side.
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Dear Dr. Ravitch:
You look great. Most of all, your explanation is distinctively clear and very logical about privatization to destroy American Public Education.
For future reference, please ask the host has your website http://www.dianeravitch.net shown on the background, behind you and the host.
Also, last sentence from the host is his/her recommendation of your website to audience. Love. May
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Thank you, May.
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Absolutely Excellent Interview By Diane and Tavis.
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It is fabulous.
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Great interview Diane & Tavis.
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Well done, a home run on all counts. I’m so glad that you pointed out that US schools are not failing and that they are doing better than ever.
Side note: The Tavis Smiley Show is partially sponsored by Walmart. It’s nice to know that Walmart’s sponsorship has no effect on Tavis’s freedom to have any guest he wants and especially one that debunks all the reformist memes and shibboleths.
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Diane:
I caught you on the Travis Smiley Show last night as I crawled under the covers. Thank you for continuing your life’s mission to advance the cause of intelligent support for public education on behalf of teachers and students and country ……. despite the misguided opposition to assuring a quality education for all who enter the doors of public schools across the country.
Peggy Funkhouser
Wellesley ‘52
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Thanks, Peggy F.
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Excellent interview!
Tavis is wonderful and both of you presented the issues with such clarity and precisision – a perfect interview!
Diane, amazing, you’re doing all this while squeezing in hang gliding, and fighting to save ALL of America’s public education, teachers and children.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T. ~ Aretha Franklin
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Why should I watch the orange haired moron spouting an alternative universe and get disgusted ? When I could watch an expert like you talk reality and facts . Great job, but I couldn’t help but think PBS will be dropping the P
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Corporation for Public Broadcasting (which supports PBS), national institutes for humanities and arts are on the job block.
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😦
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P is for Privatized
Great answers, Diane.
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A cogent alternative to Cheeto-in-Chief’s press conference. I admire how neatly you presented the issue. You also looked great!
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Wonderfully clear. Loved your look of surprise when you said “President Trump.” The “I can’t believe I said that” was unmistakable.
You make everything look easy. Key points are in place. m4potw has some good technical suggestions.
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He asked if he should edit it out, and I said no.
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I used to work in Public Television (Engineering, not policy). Public Broadcasting (Radio/TV) operates with more independence and autonomy, than commercial broadcasting. Sponsors ( called “Underwriters”) receive no consideration in influencing programming or content.
If you enjoy watching public TV, or listening to public radio, then you should give serious consideration to supporting your local public broadcasting stations, with your financial contributions.
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It was a good interview! Thanks for doing that.
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You were fabulous, Diane! Thank you, thank you!!!!!
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Great interview–so good to see you on for such a long time (meaning, an entire show), & interviewed by a thoroughly prepared, intelligent & sensitive journalist.
So much better than that Randi (can’t even remember her last name, but saw her being silly–interviewing people on a cruise ship for the 2nd or 3rd year– on New Year’s Eve w/Anderson Cooper & Kathy Griffin) interview on CNN several years back.
Really glad that you talked about ALEC–I STILL have to tell people about it, & it’s almost 44 years old.
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That was a wonderful interview all the way round.
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Absolutely wonderful interview — both the interviewer and the interviewed (you) were at their best. Unhindered public education is one of the most important things in any town, for creating thoughtful, honest, free, and considerate (of everyone’s rights) citizens.
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Good interview, but unfortunately, for those in power, when it comes to things like charters and testing (and most other things, in fact)
“Facts don’t matter”
Facts don’t matter
Money does
Coffers fatter
Just because
Ideology
Lives or dies
Based on money
Driven lies
What this means in practice is that facts generally will not win the argument, especially when the other side has their own polterfacts (“facts” that make kachinging noises and cause politicians to move)
Climate scientists now understand this all too well — though they were originally under the misapprehension that facts actually would win out. They were wrong, of course.
As long as money is allowed to paint a false picture of reality, “true facts” (TM) will continue to take a back seat.
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SDPoet,
“Polterfacts” I love it!
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Thank you Diane, and thanks to Travis Smiley. A wonderful, timely interview. I hope more people will open their eyes to what public education is, and the danger of what it may become if not checked by our legislators.
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Terrific presentation!
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Thanks, Diane, for your terrific explanation of “all that matters in public schooling.” In most other interviews, you are asked some loaded question, and allowed a minute or two for an answer. Then it’s over. Here you had Travis Smiley, a THINKING guy whose whole life is dedicated to improving the welfare of poor black folks, who asked you REAL questions, and you did a great job.
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Thank you, Dorothy.
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