Click here for her biographies (from her website and NYU faculty bio), blog, Facebook Page, and Twitter account.It is doubt that shows we are still thinking, still willing to reexamine hardened beliefs when confronted with new facts and new evidence. ~ Diane Ravitch
Prior to blogging on education, I never heard of Dr. Diane Ravitch, renowned education historian who has authored several books and written many education-related articles and op-eds. Her lengthy career in education began long before I was born or before I started my teaching career over ten years ago. However, what she has done recently not only should be celebrated among public education supporters, but also teach us a lesson about acknowledging mistakes. While we are all entitled to make mistakes, in redeeming ourselves, we must not only acknowledge our wrongs but also correct them.
According to her latest best-selling book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education, Dr. Ravitch explained, in keen yet uncompromising details, how the current education reform tactics are destroying our public schools, deprofessionalizing teachers, and mis-educating our children by the overemphasis of standardized testing and school accountability. In addition, she chronicled her journey of righting her wrongs. You see, beginning with her tenure at US DOE under the first Bush administration as an assistant secretary and counselor, Dr, Ravitch, a life-long Democrat, naively pushed for the Republican educational platform of standards and school choice. Even after her stint with US DOE ended, she advocated for many of the current reform tactics, e.g., charter schools, merit pay, and accountability as well as a supporter of NCLB.
However, in the fall of 2006, she experienced her epiphany ironically at an educational conference sponsored by a conservative think tank; via scholarly presentations on the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of NCLB, Dr. Ravitch explicitly saw the massive flaws in this federal legislation. From the few number of parents not taken advantage of school choice to meeting the impossible mandate that every American student will be proficient in reading and math by the year 2014, in her book, she acknowledged these and other critical errors in NCLB, despite its good intentions of fixing our public schools and closing the achievement gaps. Since then, she has become a staunch critic of NCLB and the current education reform movement. She has consistently shared her views for sensible reform method, well-rounded curriculum, and a bottom-up approach to fixing our public schools with supporters and opponents alike. Now, I look forward to her several 140-character commentaries on Twitter daily.
I want to say my initial exposure to Dr. Ravitch was an early 2010 news report on her on CBS or ABC Nightly News; I can't remembered unfortunately. What I do remember it was around the time during the release of her latest book, which was receiving much buzz from educational circles and media outlets. After talking to one of my close friends, who is also a fellow educator, early this summer, I went to the nearby Borders bookstore and purchased her book. Well, about an hour ago, I just finished reading it...finally. Thanks to her book, I am more knowledgeable about the historical roots of the current education reform movement -- from the misconstrued impact of A Nation At Risk to NCLB as we know it to the current influx of corporate foundations intervening in the education reform debate seeking an business investment, instead of funding proven ways to properly educate our children in becoming sufficient, well-rounded, and productive citizens.
As teachers, we live busy lives, in and outside of the school house. It is difficult for some of us to have a normal social life or to indulge into an enjoyable hobby. Nevertheless, due to the urgency at hand, it is important for in-service teachers to stay informed and abreast on the current education reform movement not only on a local level, but also especially at the national level. I implored every educator and public school supporter to buy and read this book; it is a great start in understanding the seriousness of this matter. If the ed deformers have their way, the future of our children will be in grave danger, as they will be trained to become docile yet successful test-takers instead of intellectual, diverse thinkers and contributors to our society.
Dr. Ravitch,
I have followed you and read your wonderful, enlightening book. I loved and am moved by the knowledge you willingly shared and the courage you displayed as you unapologetically follow your conscience. As educators and public education supporters, we love and appreciate your dedication and tenacity as one of the prominent critics of the current education reform movement. To me, your journey is liken to that of the Apostle Paul in the Bible. Once a notorious persecutor of Christians, Saul transformed to Paul, one of the major authoritative and supportive figures in Christian living in most of the New Testament, after having a divine epiphany of his own. Like Paul, despite the political backlash, you have championed for a great cause and conviction by righting your wrongs. Therefore, we thank you for being our "modern-day Paul" in education reform. I will forever be a die-hard fan of the influential figure you have become in our quest for quality yet sensible education reform. Keep up the good fight!
No comments:
Post a Comment