Last Tuesday I flew from Florida to D.C. I spent Tuesday afternoon speaking to about 200 staff and friends of the AFT at its headquarters on New Jersey Avenue.
Randi Weingarten introduced me and she was gracious and eloquent. We had a conversation and I took questions. I’m convinced that unions are a vital part of our democracy, and the same people who want to eliminate public schools also want to eliminate unions.
On Wednesday morning I stopped by Lamar Alexander’s office and dropped off a book. We had made an appointment but he canceled, due to the impeachment. I had dreamed of being the one who changed his mind, who reminded him of his integrity and decency, but I never got the chance. I’m deeply disappointed in his incoherent position that Trump is guilty as charged but pressuring a foreign ally to dig up dirt on your political opponent (and withholding $400 million) is not impeachable.
Then I dropped a book off at the offices of Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a great champion of public education and labor.
Then a brown bag lunch with staff at the NEA. I told them I hope every teacher reads the book. We had a great exchange.
Wednesday night I spoke at the Politics & Prose bookstore, where the room was packed. Lots of old friends from my time in DC. Delighted to see Valerie Strauss.
Thursday morning I took a train to NYC. On Friday I did a podcast with Mike Pesca of SLATE. I want feeling well, and we had to stop the taping while I coughed.
On Saturday I was able to see my physician and she put me on antibiotics and told me to stay in bed and drink a lot of fluids.
It’s Sunday night. I feel better but still not 100%.
i leave for Seattle early Monday morning. I will be speaking at Town Hall on February 4, with the help of the brilliant Jesse Hagopian.
Then on to San Francisco. I will be at Kepler Bookstore in Menlo Park on Feb 6.
On February 7, if I still have a voice, I will be at Lowell High School, sponsored by United Educators of San Francisco.
I hope I feel better. I’m excited to see old friends and meet new ones who share the mission of fighting for better public schools.
I saw a wonderful quote today by Scott Maxwell, an editorial writer at the s Orlando Sentinel. He wrote (and I paraphrase): “Berate the public schools if you must, but no public school student ever found out in the middle of the year that his school just closed down.” I tweeted it.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Please take good care of you Diane! Abundant blessings and safe travels. Deanna
Sent from my iPhone
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You are incredible. Keep speaking everywhere and as often as you can. (But stay healthy. We need you at 100%!)
Please take good care of yourself, Diane. Good luck, safe travels. and blessings.
Go get ’em, Diane.
I really worry about this, Diane. Traveling around this much, you will be exposed to a lot of rhinoviruses and other nastiness not native to Brooklyn and your other usual haunts and habitations. And as we get older, these can take a terrible toll on us. Please be careful. When you need rest, take it. There will always be another speaking opportunity. But there will never be another Diane Ravitch.
always, that is, if Democracy survives
I agree with Bob, Diane!!!
Diane, consider Skyping and telephone calls to increase and traveling to decrease when you are not feeling well! No one is invincible. There is only one you.
I agree. Take care. I bet you are woplumout (In my vernacular, this means very tired. Think worn all the way out)
Yup. Plum tired. My head forgets my physical age but the body does not forget.
Good luck on your travels. You are doing everything to save public education in this country.
Please don’t travel if you don’t feel great.
I received this email from the Chicago Teachers Union:
Diane Ravitch
on
Slaying Goliath
Wednesday
February 19
6:30–8:30PM
CTU Center
1901 W Carroll
Feel 100% better soon, Diane.
Lamar Alexander’s loss.
Thanks for all the hard work, Diane. Try to find a warm spot and some free time out on the west coast where you can soak up some healing sun rays and rest and regroup. Take care.
As Bing Crosby and Bob Hope sang many decades ago, “we’re off on the road to Morocco…”
Seattle, here I come!
I read Slaying Goliath yesterday and as with Diane’s previous two books, was not able to put it down…had to drag myself away to fix meals. I think chapter 3, especially, should be required reading for anyone involved in public education – parents, teachers, administrators, school boards, etc. We all need to know who the Disrupters are, what they want, and how they work to accomplish their goals.
While I have been retired from public school teaching for almost 17 years and therefore I am not directly involved in the madness, what is going on is frightening and needs to be stopped before our democracy no longer exists.
Thank you, Diane, for all that you do…you have long been my idol.
Thank you, Susan.
As a favor, pay it forward. Give the book to a school board member or legislator.
Safe travels and especially good health, Diane! Thsnk you for all you do for us.
Feel better soon! It is difficult to do public meetings if you are not feeling well. Thanks for your efforts and diligence in working for public education.
I am worried about your health. We are of an age, and I am astonished at all you do. I have sent all my friends a link to your book… and I am going to buy it for my son!
Thank you.
After considering the matter, I wonder how you can get more done sick and 80 than I got done in the prime of my life. It does not seem fair. Energy should be evenly spread around. Also, I feel too much energy is wasted on the youth before they can properly prioritize.
You are amazing but you need to listen to your body and those around you who are concerned about your health and well-being. You are a mere mortal after all and a whole lot of people still count on your leadership. I do not understand how you can continue to blog and respond to comments while on this marathon book tour. I imagine you are also managing some tweets and who knows what else. Take good care.