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December 18, 2009
Diane Ravitch explains why she changed her mind about reform
If you weren’t at the GothamSchools party last week, then you missed a real treat: Diane Ravitch reading publicly for the first time from her forthcoming book, ”The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education.”
Reading from a selection titled “What I Learned About School Reform,” Ravitch explained why she has reversed her position on policies from test-based accountability to school choice.
“Where once I had been hopeful, even enthusiastic, about the potential benefits of testing, accountability, choice, and markets, I now found myself experiencing profound doubts about the same ideas,” Ravitch said.
“What was the compelling evidence that prompted me to reevalute the policies I had endorsed many times over the previous decade? Why did I now doubt ideas I had once advocated?” she asked. “The short answer is that my views changed because I saw how these ideas were working in reality.”
For the long answer, watch the video of Ravitch’s reading (and pre-order her book).
Ravitch read from her book to support GothamSchools. Here’s how you can support us, too.
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December 19th, 2009 7:54 am
What a beautiful reading.
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December 28th, 2009 3:11 am
Ugh. she’s way past her prime, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that her ideas are too. Her best idea is to have a “code of teachers” to teach what they think is important? really? what in the world would that mean? How would we know if it was working, another code?
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December 28th, 2009 8:08 am
To commenter “ugh”: not only is your comment rude, but it shows lack of comprehension. Diane Ravitch said nothing about a “code of teachers.” She did bring up a code of ethics–a commitment to those things that constitute a good education. This is essential. If we want good schools, we must define what good education is and commit ourselves to it. Without that, we will fall prey to one misguided reform after another; slogans and flawed models will take the place of good ideas.
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December 28th, 2009 10:07 am
I have to admit, my eyes glazed over at this reading, distracted by all the rude talkers behind me…but a code of ethics for teachers is a great idea.
If we had such a thing it would solve a lot of problems…but now all we have to do is agree on what goes in it!
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December 28th, 2009 5:41 pm
Alas, angry souls bereft of ideas or imagination must spout ad-hominem nonsense. It’s virtually an industry in these United States, with troglodytes ruling the airwaves, and real news increasingly a quaint memory.
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December 28th, 2009 5:43 pm
And of course I wasn’t referring to Diane Ravitch.
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December 29th, 2009 9:31 am
It is wise to learn from Dr Ravitch’s great knowledge and ability to render that knowledge accessible to everyone. The New York City public school system is in dire need of reform, but not of another educational fad or panacea. Dr Ravitch is correct in placing emphasis on a more coherent, rich and educationally sound curriculum. What is also needed, more than everything else, is the admission that the system is largely dysfunctional, at least in terms of educating our most vulnerable children. If we continue to cover up our failures, we will continue to harm those children. We the adults - the DOE, its administrators, the teachers, parents — everyone — must first admit that there is a big problem before we can solve it. If we do not, we will continue to warehouse vast numbers of high school students who are completely unprepared for high school work, and who come to school to socialize with their friends but refuse to engage in the learning process. This is the shameful truth that we are hiding.
We need professional, reasoned debate, not recriminations and name-calling. For the sake of our children, we the adults must step up and take responsibility.
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March 19th, 2010 8:26 pm
I think you could pick up that comment and use it as a blog post. What you wrote is great advice any way that you look at it.
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