Michael Petrilli is president of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute. I argue with him about almost everything related to education. I have known Mike for many years, since the days when I was on the Dark Side with him. We have email exchanges where we argue. We seldom reach agreement, but we never turn mean. I used to say that I thought one day Mike would realize he was wrong, as I did nearly ten years ago. I was probably wrong to predict that he would have an epiphany, a change of heart, actually find his heart, and it may undermine his funding from the far-right if I say it again (should I say it again?) He is set in his ways, as I once was. I changed. Can he? He probably won’t. TBF joined the vile and anti-democratic ALEC. Shame on them (and Mike).
His saving grace: he has a sense of humor. He can laugh at himself.
This is Mike’s Halloween costume.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.
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I certainly appreciate the civility, Diane. I also understand you have a personal friendship with Mr. Petrilli. Generally, I appreciate humor more easily and more often than the average person. I don’t find Mr. Petrilli’s costume humorous. I’d feel the same way if it was being worn by Arne Duncan or Michelle Rhee.
I’d feel differently if it were being worn by the right person.
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What make it humorous is that he is showcasing outdated technology in relation to the standardized tests. Backward thinking is backward thinking, perhaps unconsciously.
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Is he laughing at himself, or is he laughing at the millions of students upon whom standardized tests are inflicted?
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Exactly! This is not a joke on himself. It is a joke on others.
Petrilli is about as honest as a Trump supporter who insists that the President never lies. I don’t know if he himself is corrupt or he has managed to rationalize his overpaid salary by pretending that he is enabling liars for some bigger cause, but every time I read one of his articles with their misleading innuendos I am reminded of John Kelly.
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Yes, and it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to see him as quasi-sadistically goading teachers and students.
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If he really wanted to be funny, he should have dressed up as himself and carried a sign that said “I 💓 Failure”
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He “hearts” tests? His own or others?
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BTW, if he loves tests so much, how about if he agrees to take one (say, the 8th grade PARCC) and post his scores? Enquiring minds want to know.
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I agree!
All people who advocate for tests should take the 8th grade math test and publish their scores!
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They would cheat. I wouldn’t trust them not to be given special “prep” materials directly from the test manufacturer that completely models the test they are given.
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Can we infer from his costume that he no longer supports computerized tests?
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I have no doubt that if the billionaires who fund the TBF Institute suddenly found a heart, so would Michael Petrilli.
He does whatever keeps the money rolling. And nothing — absolutely nothing — will get him to change his mind until the people who bankroll his no doubt very generous salary decide to point out the corruption in the charter movement.
When that happens there is no doubt in my mind that Petrilli will suddenly “see the light.”
If we want to change the minds of Petrilli, we need to change the minds of the billionaire reformers who tell him what to think. Until then, it is a waste of time.
Effort to change minds should be directed at billionaires and the public — not directly to Petrilli because he doesn’t care what YOU tell him. But if his billionaire employers realize their pro-reform agenda is reflecting badly on them, they will give the marching orders to Petrilli and he will immediately change his tune to whatever they say.
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Here’s the Amazon link for the only book title I can make out on Petrelli’s shelves: https://www.amazon.com/Net-Gain-Expanding-Markets-Communities/dp/0875847595/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509570513&sr=8-1&keywords=net+gain&dpID=51dwqDpmN6L&preST=SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40&dpSrc=srch
Why am I not surprised that that’s what Petrelli likes to read?
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My problem is that number 2 pencil. When I was young, no 2 was a nice way of saying sh!!t. Thus, is Petrelli saying that testing is real a bunch of no 2? Since is pencil is filled with himself, is he saying that he is shaving cream? How can people chew on a no 2 pencil?
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Sorry, I don’t find it funny. I am witness to the harm high stakes tests are inflicting on children and teachers. His sign should say, “I heart making $$$ from abusive testing of children.” Do his two sons go to private or pubic school? Wondering if they have to take the tests…Probably not or he wouldn’t be wearing this offensive costume.
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His children attend public schools….BUT the area where he lives is far removed from everything(outside of DC in the MD suburbs). The schools in that area are segregated but with a high asian population and no FARMS children. The average income in that area would blow your mind! The few public schools are run more like elite private schools, so the parents don’t have to pay for their children to go there. The PTA coffers are overflowing with cash! You should hear how most teachers working in Montgomery County public schools talk about the schools in that area. The kids there get a real education although they still have to take the BS tests….and they do very well on those tests! Petrilli is a rich jerk and nothing more.
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Petrilli could have simply dressed as himself….that’s scary enough.
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Hahahaha…good one.
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He’s Ed Reform’s biggest cheerleader, and for some reason the media treats him as if he’s an unbiased commentator: https://edexcellence.net/articles/the-year-since-the-2016-election-has-been-surprisingly-good-for-education-reform?utm_source=Fordham+Updates&utm_campaign=5900d116c4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_11_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d9e8246adf-5900d116c4-71494877
I see him as the prototypical Ed Reformer who thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room, hasn’t set foot in a classroom actually affected by his policies in years, and has ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY. If he’s wrong and when he’s wrong, he can sit securely in his office and write up another Ed Reform propaganda piece. His ostensible self-mockery of a Halloween costume is, in fact, mocking every one of us on here.
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Mike is a nice guy. But he has the typical arrogance of ed reformers about other people’s children. He sees the world from 20000 feet up, and makes pronouncements about how they should be educated. Reminds me of the great book SEEING LIKE A STATE.
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I believe you, Diane, and I think you’ve nailed it. I just wish he could go back to teaching (has he ever taught?) under his “ideal circumstances” for five years. (And by teaching, I mean teaching K-12.)
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Personally, I’m tired of “nice,” people whose careers are built on screwing over others.
He may be nice to his secretary, to his kids, to his dog, but I couldn’t care less; he’s the Enemy, and should be seen and treated as such.
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Diane,
I don’t believe people like Mike are arrogant. I believe they are greedy.
He is saying what he says because he is richly rewarded for it.
If the billionaire reformers who underwrite his salary suddenly decided that public schools were good and that education reform organizations needed to be talking about the huge problems that have been revealed in charters, would Mike quit and go off to defend charters with no one to pay him to do so anymore?
I doubt he would stick to his “core beliefs” that charters are great when the people who pay for the TBF Institute decide that they are not.
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I take it the seven year old struggling with a keyboard costume has not been produced yet.
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“I love tests” (to the tune of I love trash)
I love tests
Anything wordy or mathy and tricky
Anything lengthy, contorted and picky
Yes, I love tests
I have here an SAT tattered and worn
It’s all full of holes and statistics are torn
A gift from the College Board when i was born
I love it because it’s trash ( I mean tests)
Oh, I love tests
Anything wordy or mathy and tricky
Anything lengthy contorted and picky
Yes, I love tests
I have here a PARCC that is thirteen months old
With nonsense inside it; by Pearson it’s sold
But I wouldn’t trade it for a big pot o’ gold!
I love it because it’s CCRAP
Oh, i love tests
Anything wordy or mathy and tricky
Anything lengthy contorted and picky
Yes, I love tests
I’ve a VAM that won’t work
And a Billy Gates tone
An eviluation, a Chetty VAMbone
And I am delighted to call them my own
I love them because they’re tests
I love tests
Anything wordy or mathy and tricky
Anything lengthy contorted and picky
Yes, I love, I love , I love tests
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Diane,
Good find. Where you find this information is a testament to you. THANK YOU.
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