We need schools in which adults are treated like adults by those "above" them in the hierarchy--which has hardly ever been the condition of public schools, especially those serving poor communities. Read Full Post >
Deborah Meier wonders about what could convince her to change her educational convictions. Read Full Post >
Dear Readers, I've had a lazy summer—while Diane has been busy on behalf of so many of us confronting the "enemy." But if you click on deborahmeier.com you'll see some of the results of my one summer task—reading newly found old boxes full of letters, documents, and clippings. I'm three... Read Full Post >
Diane Ravitch predicts another difficult year of test-based "reform" for the nation's schools. Read Full Post >
Dear Diane, Every day, some new, unexpected voice pipes up confirming views on the quality of the tests in use to judge our children, their teachers, and their schools. The much-vaunted New York Regents math exams turn out to be shockingly shabby, etc. Ditto for new reports on the financial scandal... Read Full Post >
Dear Deborah, Over the past few months, I have traveled the country and spoken to thousands of educators—teachers, administrators, and school board members. At the same time, I have kept close tabs on the national discussion about the Obama administration's Race to the Top. I have discovere... Read Full Post >
Dear Deborah, This year the federal testing program (the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP) expanded to include 18 urban districts. The testing of urban districts is known as TUDA (or, Trial Urban District Assessment). TUDA was launched in 2002, in response to a request by the Co... Read Full Post >
Dear Diane, That was an amazing and surprising find re. Milwaukee charters. I thought that at the very least they'd get the advantage of being in a more diverse (integrated) setting with more middle-class kids and that being chosen (even by lottery) would produce a kind of halo effect. Why it didn'... Read Full Post >
Dear Diane, Last Saturday's event—"Remapping Progressive Education"—was great. Someone remarked as I went into the auditorium to start the first session that they felt they had died and gone to heaven—seeing all their old colleagues from so many years ago. But there were far more ... Read Full Post >
Dear Diane, Lucid and to the point, Diane. I'll sign on. Once again, we may confront a law that penalizes schools that don't eliminate differential test score outcomes that correlate with race, class, disability, or language spoken at home. (And that pays teachers based on scores, and favors charte... Read Full Post >
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