Art writes:
I think Diane Ravitch’s vision for a traditional public education is similar to what we have in Albany, though obviously the district is in need of resources. I’m very happy with our district and a traditional public education, and I feel the article articulates what’s good about that tradition. I’m looking forward to reading her latest book: The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education
I liked the article too.
It makes me sad the a well-educated, rich, white person gets a grip on life and it is celebrated far and wide. Here is a person who has spent her life working on public education and has, by the accounts I have read, done a great disservice to the institution. Representative democracy in action? I think not.
Sure, it is nice that she has woken up. But she sounds to me like so many ‘intellectuals’ Margaret and I ran into at Swarthmore. They had all the ‘logic’ but did not understand anything about life and how it works for the vast majority of poor people. My question was always; “Why are these ‘intellectuals’ given so much power over the poor?”
Seem like there will always be the occasional Clarence Thomas, Ward Connerly, Alberto Gonzales or John Yoo who will give oppression in this country a face of color. I find it sad that she enjoyed her time with this group while working to destroy educational opportunities for the poor. Maybe now she can work to undo some of the harm she has caused. I suggest she promote a few poor women of color who have come up through our public educational system to lead the charge. Please bring more representative voices into the discussion.
PS: I have no issue with anyone talking about anything they wish. But I find it sad that, like our prison system, public education is populated with poor people of color but not controlled by them. If the USA is going to be governed by our Constitution, it really should be representative. Our educational system is crippled by its slavery foundation. We use it to teach our minions how to work… not how to become fully human.