Dr. Michael Hynes is the Superintendent of the Patchogue-Medford School District on Long Island in New York. He is a champion of child-centered education, has given TED talks, and has led his community in support of a vision of education that is good for children. He should be New York’s State Commissioner of Education.
In this video, he talks about women who informed and inspired him.
You will recognize some of them immediately, maybe all of them.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
How about Marie Clay who has made a phenomenal contribution to the literacy world; viz. the “at risk” and the emergent reader? Her Pragmatic and Constructivist philosophy established a road map for primary reading teachers. She was(now deceased) from New Zealand. On a Fulbright Scholarship she studied Developmental Psychology at the U. of Minn. She received her doctorate at U of Auckland. Her philosophy and methodology impacted the International world.
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OH MY! Someone should have a little discussion with Dr. Hynes about his choice of Dr. Dweck. Maybe her research started out as something useful, but it has become the SEL of choice for ed “rephormers” and leads to much of the creepy data gathering entered into longitudinal data systems. She is even now out there profiting from her work (from various think tanks) while pushing this crap program…and crap it is!!! I know she has come out and stated that she thought her work was being “misinterpreted” and “misused”, but she is NOT turning away any of the dollars flowing into her pocketbook.
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Agree. Every enthusiast for the theory of Growth Mindset should visit Dweck’s Brainology website https://www.mindsetworks.com
She is savvy about marketing it, even to the point offering a “badge” (certificate) of competency in teaching her theory https://bloomboard.com/microcredential/view/1051acb8-7587-48f4-af8f-6ed865e02261
I also suggest looking at some of the criticisms of her theory, especially from fellow psychologists who are working on education for black boys and men.
I think her theory fails to recognize that effort and practice alone cannot produce results in many contexts where subtle judgments are required, or the circumstances are not clear, or tasks have not been encountered before.
Her theory is a version of you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you just practice and think you can. It is no accident that she is frequent collaborator with Angela Duckworth of “grit” fame.
In education, Dweck has contributed to a significant downplaying of attention to role of affinities developed through play and evident in play, differences in abilities, and relationships between early signs of talent and those affinities.
I think that the real danger is implanting false hopes of perfection achieved through practice of “the right kind” and a mindset that says…keep on practicing even if little value is seen in that …other than meeting some requirement in school.
Affinities matter, and affirmations of abilities matter.
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Congratulations, Diane, on being picked as a very influential leader in education. All of us on this blog know that you are fantastic but it is great to hear a wonderful public school superintendent also praise you.
Thank you, Michael J. Hynes, for recognizing Diane Ravitch. She is an inspiration to all of us who are interested in education.
[Dare I say that I wish he’d been my superintendent? I’ve had some really bad ones in my day.]
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How cool is this?
This is what superintendents do! Read! Reflect! Model. Share. Teach. Thank you to Dr. Hynes for doing this and Dr. Ravitch for sharing – – and to Dr. Hynes for you choice of Dr. Ravitch right from the start.
All may not agree with his or others’ choices – but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater – this is a wonderful idea and it’s out there for all to see!
some others…
Maya Angelou – On the Pulse of the Morning
Lisa Delpit – Other People’s Children
Beverly Daniel Tatum – Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria
Geneva Gay – Culturally Responsive Teaching
Madeline Hunter (yes! Madeline Hunter – recognized talents of teachers and did NOT want it turned into an evaluation checklist)
Maxine Greene
and
my sixth grade teacher 🙂
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As you know Diane, I have worked with a number of those he honors. I have been honored to have worked with and developed friendships over the past several decades with you, Linda, and Debbie. Someone I know less well is Heidi, having talked with her directly only once, but at a significant event. It was at the 50th reunion of the class of 1963 at Mamaroneck High School in Westchester County NY. Heidi is married to my classmate Jeff Jacobs. I had been aware of her work before, as I have been of the work both of Dweck and Montessori.
As a classroom educator (still, at age 72, despite several attempts at retiring), I think I can say much of the encouragement I have received over the years for my own work in educational policy and advocacy has been from women such as those cited, as well as a few others (Nel Noddings comes to mind). Debbie and you have been the most influential upon me because of the personal relationships we have developed.
What is important is for ALL of us, male and female, to serve as mentors and inspiration for those coming behind us, for the benefit of all of our children, and thereby benefit our society.
One last comment – I can remember many moons ago your telling me that you did not see the value of social media. While it is true it can be used for destructive/nefarious or even just time-wasting purposes, think how important your use of blogging has been. I’d like to think that some of us who have been inspired by you have similarly inspired/moved you, Deborah, Linda, and others.
Peace.
Ken
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Ken, I don’t remember saying that, but I am starting to count the number of times I have been wrong.
Social media is a powerful tool for those not endowed with millions of dollars.
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