Summary and Critique of Diane Ravitch’s “The Death and Life of the Great American School System”

Summary and Critique of
Diane Ravitch’s “The Death and Life of the Great American School System”

Prior to reading this book, I did not know much about Diane Ravitch, her politics, or her analysis of education in America. I was briefly introduced to her when a colleague shared her notable 2010 article in the New York Times entitled, “The Myth About Charter Schools,” after a staff viewing of Waiting for “Superman”. (Ironically, I was working at a new charter school in Philadelphia at the time.) I thoroughly enjoyed her critique and analysis of the perpetuation of myths regarding public education through this highly publicized and highly funded cinematic campaign for charter schools. To say the least, I was curious to dive deeper into her exploration regarding the charter school movement by reading her newest work “The Death and Life of the Great American School System”.
To understand the significance of this work, it must be understood that this text was birthed out of a woman who for decades with an extreme amount of zeal and academic fervor supported the exact reforms and strategies she is now finding antithetical of democracy. In the opening chapter, Ravitch anecdotally describes how she came to understand her new position on public education. She refers to this realization as an “intellectual crisis” and a “wrenching transformation” on her perspective. After completing the book, I would consider this more of a self “weheme mesu” (Weheme mesu is translated from mdw ntr, the language of the ancient Egyptians, as “the repetition of the birth”. This is the first expression of the concept of renaissance in history. See “Reflections on the Revision of The African Centered Paradigm” by Jacob Carruthers.) , more commonly known as a renaissance, of sorts. Her original philosophy has rebirthed. She is again, who she once was. Admittedly, she states that she was swept up in a wave of quick fixes for problems in the education system and as she details in the chapters, various working relationships and political tides of the decades inadvertently caused her to think and act in opposition to her original philosophy on education.
Using the following chapters, Ravitch critically examines the ideological path of charter school and privatization movement. Chapter 2, entitled “Hijacked! How the Standards Movement Turned into the Testing Movement” sheds light on how her professional development coincided with the political views of education reform. Ravitch describes how her work, under President G. H. W. Bush’s administration, to create voluntary national curriculum standards was single-handedly destroyed by Lynne V. Cheney and her accusation that the draft for the subject of history leaned towards political propaganda. This sparked a debate on what, who, when, and where should hold influence in history curriculums nationwide. Once that debate entered the political arena, standards were quickly abandoned and a more favorable accountability measure was pushed: high-stakes testing.
Chapters 3, 4, and 5 give explicit examples of how this new focus on reform played out in several noted districts in the United States. Ultimately, these stories do not have happy endings. However, the quick wins that were presented by the several administrations mentioned overshadowed the harsh reality that nothing had really changed for any of the districts. Academic success as heralded in the media by the administration in those districts were the result of data manipulation, staff coercion, and the pupeteering of student populations.
Chapters 6 and 7 discuss the impact of national and local legislation on education. Nationally, No Child Left Behind, enacted in January of 2002 under President George W. Bush, was a school accountability plan focused on strict measurement and severe consequences. President Barack Obama recently reenacted this legislation. Though bipartisan, NCLB has some harsh critics. Ravitch herself saw no initial problem with the system, but now is highly critical in its attempts to foster “proficiency” in mathematics and reading across the country. Even more interesting is the concept of choice and its development in Milwaukee, Cincinnati, and Washington, DC. Ravitch presents that these new options in the districts did not effectively impact the system as anticipated. The main reason for this was due to the fact that not many families took up the opportunity to use their “choice”. In addition, the rating systems used to determine choice eligibility proved arbitrary and inaccurate in many districts.
The final chapters are a presentation of Ravitch’s analysis of the situation at hand. Discussing her high school teacher, Mrs. Ratliff, she thinks about the concept of a great teacher. As a student, she felt that her teacher was wonderful and in retrospect she suspects that Mrs. Ratliff would not have been as great if she was under all of the regulations and assessments that teachers under NCLB must endure. Teacher accountability is extremely important, but measuring that accountability should not sacrifice the quality of actual learning that occurs in the classroom. However, chapter 10 was the most interesting to me. Ravitch discusses the impact foundation funding has on the national education agenda. This is not surprising considering the history of philanthropy and education from Rosenwald to Rockefeller, the national education agenda has always been in the palms of foundations. Ravitch ultimately argues that the individuals running foundations are having the greatest impact on the reforms that are enacted. The checks and balance system that is the basis of American democratic philosophy ends with philanthropy. What a philanthropist determines with their checkbook, is not up for scrutiny. This is ironic considering that philanthropists are able to write these checks because of tax legislation that was intended to support social welfare. Private donations are essentially public dollars.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I think that Ravitch cleverly used her background in the history of American education as a backdrop for the discussion of current trends. In fact, I am now privy to many concepts in education that I had yet to explore. In addition, Ravitch’s personal narrative describing her “weheme mesu” is important considering her role and relationship to some of the major power players in education. I hope that her presentation in this book may enlighten and even influence individuals who still believe in educational quick wins and quick fixes to think broadly and realistically at the dire situation at hand. Reformers, policy makers, and historians should critically read this text and take Ravitch’s recommendations as a basis for educational revolution in the future.

Since then...

the timing of this is impeccable...

My last post was concerning the good morning text....

He doesn't exist anymore
I mean he is alive
But he needs not be a part of my world anymore
He is married
married
married.
He's sorry.
BUT he aint even sorry.
He's trifling,
and
the least bit remorseful about it.

I forget sometimes,
that I'm way to awesome for THEIR bullshit.

one thing I don’t need is any more apologies I got sorry greetin me at my front door you can keep yrs I don’t know what do wit em they don’t open doors or bring the sun back they don’t make me happy or get a morning paper didn’t nobody stop using my tears to wash cars cuz a sorry
Lady in Blue

He has contacted me twice.
No sir, we cannot be friends.
NAW NIGGA, GET THE HELL ON MAYNE.

the nerve. the absolute nerve.
the audacity of the 6ft 5in of bald headed man o sexiness
to think that i could ignore
the fact that
he's married.

this not is attached to a plant i've been watering since the day i met you you may water it
your damn self

friendship is awesome
when you deserve it
its rewarding
when you work hard it
but once you abuse it
or take it for granted
i'm completely over it

i am simply tired of collecting i didnt know i was so important to you i'm gonna haveta throw some away i cant get to the clothes in my close for alla the sorries i'm gonna tack a sign to my door leave a message by the phone if you called to say yr sorry call somebody else i dont use em anymore -Lady in Blue

with one final deep and complete eye roll...

door slam on alladat

The Good Morning Text

At some point during our lives, we have all been smitten for someone. This smitten-ness has caused us to be completely enveloped in every interaction we have with that person. We remember every hug, smile, phone call and TEXT MESSAGE. More often than not, it's those text messages that get the emo pot stirring. Those short expressions of interest maintain the wonderment of a new budding relationship. Easily delivered. Easily accessible. The text message has quickly become the main mode of communication for many.

One would think that since the text message is used so often that it would not maintain a special bond between two people. However, the highly sought and rarely received "good morning text" is a prime example of how mobile communication has changed the face of relationships.

The good morning text let's you know that that person is thinking about you as soon as they wake up. You are the first person they find a need to talk to. They want to be the first person you talk to. No matter how you look at it, it means something special.

When I was 18...

Sister ArmedPropaganda asked that a few people take a moment and reflect upon being 18. I feel awkward doing so, mainly because 18 was only 5 years ago. However, in hindsight, I have changed tremendously over the last 5 years. Anyway, as for the matter at hand, when I was 18....

Like Kanye, I worked at the GAP. To me, that was the achievement of a lifetime. The GAP, the store that I routinely spent what little money I had on jeans, sweaters, skirts, and blazers was now paying me to give them their money back. Oh how glorious. Shoutouts to PG Plaza... that mall became my haven throughout undergrad.

I lost my virginity at 18. It was unceremonial. Not bad, just not noteworthy. I don't even know where that guy is now. eh.

When I was 18, the song of the moment was Drop It Like Its Hot. Which once again ignited my deep, passionate and unrelenting love for Mr. Pharrell Williams. I can remember blasting it in the speakers where I worked after a long night of doing nothing in Crandall Hall. (Quad Girl for Life!!!)

I didn't drink. Can you believe that? Word, I wasn't BIG on alcohol at that time.

I was a size 12. I was just talking to my sister Anoa about how when we have kids, they aren't going to look at pictures and ask about us when we were "skinny". I'll prolly be this same size till I die (hopefully!).

I had a perm. Well, I kinda did. My last perm I got in May (at age 17) and I didn't cut my hair until December. Perhaps it would be better to say that at 18.... I made the transition from creamy crack to nappy and happy.

I had my first LEGIT Valentine's date. I can't remember where we went to dinner, but he got me a stuffed bear and a gift card to Up Against the Wall (RIP).

I first saw Floetry in concert. I fell in love with the Songstress.

My favorite outfit was a white RocaWear sweater that was off the shoulders that I wore with my RockaWear jeans and wheat Timbs.

Oh yea, at 18.... I owned hella pairs of Timbs.

I worked two jobs...besides the GAP, I worked at a law office as a legal assistant.

When I was 18, I hated clubs. ...I was shy.... I still am, but now I can drink legally.

When I was 18, I bible-thumped.

I met THIS GUY, which is great because I know he's ride or die... and I needed that then...and more importantly NOW.

I went on my first legit dates at 18. I couldn't date during high school (not that there was anyone who I could/would/should have dated). Actually, I think I got more play at 18 than I do now at 23. I must have looked young and virginal. Men are predators! I joke.

When I was 18, I wore green colored contacts and had a blonde afro. Confused much? Or aboriginal perhaps? I don't know what I was going for, but I thought I was doing the damn thing, that is for sure.

*thinking*

Wow, at 18, I joined Facebook. Howard, the first HBCU to have Facebook. (Wow, my spell checked just red squiggly lined me because I didn't capitalize Facebook. Damn YOU, Mark Zuckerberg, for taking over the damn world.)

I met the ladies that are going to be in my wedding, godparent my children, and sing at my funeral.

18 was cool. Life only got more awesome after that. Would I go back and do it again? In a heartbeat. If I did, I would do it fearlessly.

I needed a blogpost. I needed some chill time. I needed to reflect. Thanks, C-Fit!

...what can't I do on the internet?

Click here to get ordained.