Thanks to a recommendation by my good friend Andy Hargreaves, I got a call from the Samantha Bee Show, which interviewed me about education and the pandemic. Here is the link. I will make a confession: I have not seen it yet. I hate to watch myself on television. I have a mental image of myself looking younger, much younger (like, 35-40), and on television every line shows, especially when you are living in a borrowed house and have no make up.
The interview took an hour. The segment is probably three minutes. I don’t know.
Let me know what you took away, other than how old I look. Don’t mention that.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I thought you looked great, and even better, sounded great. I was delighted to see you get national exposure to viewers who probably don’t live and breathe education, but do care about good policies for our kids. Good for you for taking on that task, and think how many people heard you!
I LOVED it. You look great and once again shared your great wisdom.
Let me say that you have no worries about looks or age. You look great and make so much more sense than most of the talking heads on TV that talk about education.
I felt very sorry for the teacher of the English language learners that is trying to reach thirty-six beginners online. It is difficult to get students that neither understand the language and culture to comprehend online. In a classroom teachers constantly get feedback from students that informs instruction during a lesson. Remote learning simply cannot duplicate the same level of useful feedback
Didn’t that ESL teacher also say only two of her students had internet access?
You were “there” towards the beginning and then towards the end; and I thought they singled out some excellent “refrigerator pieces” from what you say was a longer interview. It was brief and you were smiling, but also you delivered the message with appropriate gravity.
The two (probable) takeaways: (1) Be thankful for teachers (first part of your input), and (2) the importance of public education for all to democracy (second part of your input). And don’t worry about it–you looked great. CBK
Thank you for the summary.
I hate watching myself on TV. The interview lasted an hour. You never know which part or how much will survive.
The good news is that since that interview, a friend dropped off hair scissors and stayed to cut my hair. Afterwards, she told me it was the first time she ever cut anyone’s hair!
Watch an NPE session on Wednesday (this Wednesday is Mike Hynes) and you will see the result.
Diane: I have two barrettes that are now keeping my bangs from hanging on my face. I don’t dare cut my hair.
A friend of mine tried to cut her hair with nail scissors…doesn’t work.
Congratulations on getting any type of hair cut!!!
I love my pajamas. Without my computer I doubt I’d know what day of the week it is. When will this end????????????
I cut my husband’s hair. He even let me do it back in the day when I had no idea what I was doing. Unfortunately, I don’t dare let him return the favor.
You look terrific in this! And the headset accessorizes perfectly.
You looked and sounded great! Thanks for all you do to defend and advocate for our profession!!!
You are a beautiful person, Diane, & that comes through loud & clear & visually as well. SBee’s response was perfect: “Will you be my therapist?” 😉
Exactly the right quote to affirm that Diane looked like the wise person she is. If Diane’s inner self is under 40, so much the better. Her energy, memory for detail, and cut to the chase wisdom is not made just for books and blogs, but also for TV.
Amen!
You must watch this, Professor Ravitch. It’s hilarious! You come across as wise and warm.
Your comment that parents aren’t teachers will be reassuring to parents at home now with their children. And thanks for encouraging parents to be grateful to us teachers and for reminding your audience of the importance of public schools in our democracy.
I think you looked fantastic and made some important points! I only wish they had let you plug your blog! I’ve learned so much from you over the years. It’s really been life-changing. Thank you for advocating for democracy, public schools, teachers and, ultimately and most of all, our children.
Diane you look great! Thanks for all the work/advocacy you do.
Diane, I think we all feel the way you do about watching yourself on film, tv, or a picture. Yes, we are getting older, but your wisdom came through with wit and clarity. The other day I saw on FB a piece from Teachwire. It begins “What if instead of falling behind, this group of lockdown kids are actually ahead? It concludes with the question what if, among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?
I am going back at least for a few months so when I turn 66 in Dec. I can then get my SS. I want my next 20 years to be mine. I want to return to puppetry. There is a definite divide between “the Youth of America ” ( what I call the young teachers) and the tried and true advocates of play which I place myself in.
It was great seeing you. You look good.
You look great in the Samantha Bee video
I know exactly what you mean about not wanting to see yourself. That is what is killing me about Zoom. My mind still thinks I’m in my forties and look the same!
This was an excellent piece on SamanthaBee. it presented all the important points we need remember when this is finally over. Unfortunately, it is preaching to the choir. Those of us who watch SamanthaBee already know al this.
You should be the next Sec. of Ed.
One of the few times I have to disagree with your wisdom. You look beautiful! And if only my skin looked that good. My wrinkles and worry lines increased 10 years+ since Nov. 2016. Thanks for doing what you do.
Thank you for that! I went to a dermatologist when I was in my 20s and asked him which fancy product I should use for my skin, and he said, “forget the fancy products. Use Vaseline Intensive Care.”
Diane’s Tip for the Day.
I took his advice.
My older sister has lots of wrinkles. I have hardly any. I thank that dermatologist.
Great piece!
Question: Who is that beautiful woman whom Samantha Bee is interviewing at the beginning and end of the segment? LOL.
“Protect them from dangerous things like Betsy DeVos.” LOL. No-Cluella DeVille.
In my head, I am still freaking 18. LOL. I sometimes catch a glimpse of myself in a car window or whatever and think, “Who the heck is that old man?” You look stunning, Diane, as you always did. But more importantly, you have a freaking beautiful mind and heart. Thank you for all you do for teachers and kids.
It’s a very narrow and twisted and sick notion of beauty that equates it with youth. Something we need to grow beyond.
Thanks, Bob.
I was supposed to attend my 60th college reunion, class of 1960.
It was canceled, sadly.
I have gone to every reunion.
I always look around and wonder, “Who are all these old women? Not like me, I still look the way I did when I was an undergraduate.” In my head. They look at me and have the same thought.
Tonight I “attended” my 40th high school reunion via Zoom.
I don’t know where all the months and years go after we have lived them. Maybe they are gone, a handful of dust. Maybe they stay with us, and our wrinkled skin is their emblem.
When I was little, I thought old people saw themselves as I saw them, as old people. But while I am getting on in years and feel my mortality, I don’t think of myself as old.
When it was my turn to speak at my Zoom reunion, I spoke about the importance to me of my own teachers, most of whom have died. But they do live on in me. The feeling is a bit like Holden’s at the end of “The Catcher in the Rye.” I miss my teachers terribly, even the ones I did not especially like at the time.
I see myself as Matt Damon.
LeftCoastTeacher: I am extremely beautiful until I look in the mirror.
I was just being silly.
LeftCoastTeacher: I’m being very realistic!!! I really like my pajamas and the two barrettes that are keeping my long bangs off my forehead and eyes.
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I realize that when I look in the mirror.
Have you seen the joke photo of what women friends will look like the first time they go out for lunch after the lock-down is over? [Overly pudgy but smiling.]
Actually, I am a little lost here and probably shouldn’t be jocular about something I don’t understand. So in all seriousness, in the eye of this Left Coast beholder, Cinderella is beautiful before she’s transformed into a princess. Now I will stop before I put my foot in my mouth again. Exit stage Left.
You look great. Teachers care so much about their students. They are adapting to this change along with everyone else. They should be appreciated so much more now.
Some children do better with no classroom distractions. My nephew and hs grandson with ADHD got all A’s this semester. Some students need the interaction with classmates. I just finished a conversion with my 2nd grade grandson who wants clearer directions on assignments.
I understand that second grade grandson’s request. Trying to convey information or opinion clearly is extremely difficult. I think we prove that fact almost every day on this blog.
Be grateful for the teachers. 2. Fundamental building blocks of a democracy is a free and universal public education system.
And 3. Diane, you are the only person in the world who actually says “going to” even though in the closed captions it was transcribed as “gonna”
gonna? Where did they get that?
Am I the only one who does not see the use in having a zoom meeting with just faces? Unless you are sharing graphics, how does a zoom meeting do anything but give all the participants a chance to be like the Jetsons. A conference call seems as effective. Sems to me that only the very experienced with the platform have their point enhanced by the medium.
I like Zoom, especially when you are interacting with friends.
Me too. When this is all over, I may continue to zoom with friends and family.
You were fine and looked fine.
Thanks.
I hope that the NEA and AFT and others will spend some money on adds in this coming election reminding people of how unappreciated teachers are in this society, and the horrible drop off in Teacher Ed enrollments, and the losses in the first 5 years because they are so undervalued in their pay and social status. The unions ought to get the Dems to promise to improve things if they throw some money at the campaign.
I too am hiding in a house away from the city. BORING, but safe, for us 82 year olds.
David
From: Diane Ravitch’s blog
Reply-To: Diane Ravitch’s blog
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 10:02 AM
To: David Berliner
Subject: [New post] My Pandemic Appearance on the Samantha Bee Show
dianeravitch posted: “Thanks to a recommendation by my good friend Andy Hargreaves, I got a call from the Samantha Bee Show, which interviewed me about education and the pandemic. Here is the link. I will make a confession: I have not seen it yet. I hate to watch myself on tel”
David,
I will forward your comment to Randi and Lily.
Diane
I second that
I think your contribution was great, and you looked good!
Diane, you looked and sounded fantastic! You always know exactly what to say and can pack a lot of key information into a few phrases. That is an amazing talent.
I loved that you opened and closed the piece by pointing out the hard work teachers do every day and everyone should vote to throw out the bad politicians who don’t appreciate teachers. What seems to have changed is how you are becoming the go-to person to interview about public education.
Thank-you for giving teachers a collective voice on the national stage.Your years of advocacy are showing the world what public education means to a free and open society.
You were perfect! I’m so glad they highlighted your books and all your accomplishments. Great to have levity amidst all the seriousness. Thank you!
Good JOB Diane! Expertise and experience never get old.
I loved hearing your laugh, Dr. Ravitch, which I’ve never heard during this depressing time. And you made me cry with your concise hopeful, ending comment that we WILL get through this. You’ll never know how much I admire you and appreciate your support for us public school teachers. Thank you.
P.S. You are as beautiful on the outside as you are in the inside.
Thank you, Joanne, I am very moved by your comment.
Diane,
You look just fine! You are bright and have all your marbles. We all get old. What is the alternative?
Every day is a gift, an opportunity, a potential, a wonderment, a chance to taste and savor, to laugh, to connect, to heal, to change, to improve, to right a wrong, and to love.
We mortals were asleep since the beginning of time. But the idea is that we were roused when we were born and are set up to do so much while awake before we return to a long slumber. The richness of our relationships, the ability to breathe and risk and grow, to turn on the flame and lightbulbs in others . . . . The human condition and state of consciousness is a miracle.
Never mind what you look like on camera; instead, celebrate who you are on and off camera and how, even with those who disagree sometimes, you have joined our cause and always act as a warrior for public education. It’s life defined!
Hopefully this will lead to more interviews to get the word out. There was a nice dig against Betsy Devos. As usual, you did great. I agree that when we “see” you, we see your inner beauty shine through, so to us, you are truly beautiful (and you do not look your age).
Thank you! Kind comments encouraged me at last to watch. I was relieved. And I love the interviewer.
In your interview you stood for an important understanding: we need free PUBLIC SCHOOLS to nurture DEMOCRACY. The narrow “efficient training for economic participation” or “pious believers” models of schooling do not work for the nation, in the long run. Public classrooms are mini-nations where citizens, knowledgeable, creative and loving people are forged, not only workers and consumers ready to follow orders.
In your interview you stood for an important understanding: we need free PUBLIC SCHOOLS to nurture DEMOCRACY. The narrow “efficient training for economic participation” or “pious believers” models of schooling do not work for the nation, in the long run. Public classrooms are mini-nations where citizens, knowledgeable, creative and loving people are forged, not only workers and consumers ready to follow orders.
I finally had time to watch the video: it was great! Diane, I wish that I had had your dermatologist–as Billy Crystal, in one of his comedic personas always said, “You look MAHvelous!” (Or however he pronounced the word marvelous.) Also–considering the fact that there was no one to do your hair & makeup.
Didn’t you also love the interviewer & the teachers? The music teacher even had a shirt on under his sweater that depicts musical bars, notes, clefs, etc. Teachers: always fun, ingenious &–even in a pandemic, economic slump–spending their own money (that teacher who was reproducing worksheets & distributing them to students).
Belated Happy Teacher Appreciation Day/Week to all you active teachers out there!
Thanks! No makeup! No hair cut! Since the interview, a friend came over with hair scissors and cut my hair. Afterwards, she told me she had never cut anyone’s hair before! I like the choppy look!
You’re welcome!
&–let’s not forget: we can always use a bowl & bring back the “bowl cut.” Why not?*
Looked good on The Beatles & Moe Fine (the Stooge I’d had a crush on).
*Rhetorical ?–we know “why not!” Most of us wouldn’t look too great!
You looked and sounded wonderful, Diane!