“Social scientists generally agree that students’ families (especially family income, which determines advantages and opportunity) have an even bigger impact on student performance than their school or teachers.” — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
“Our schools will not improve if we continue to focus only on reading and mathematics while ignoring the other studies that are essential elements of a good education. Schools that expect nothing more of their students than mastery of basic skills will not produce graduates who are ready for college or the modern workplace. *** Our schools will not improve… — Diane Ravitch Copy Share
We will continue to chase rainbows unless we recognize that they are rainbows and there is no pot of gold at the end of… — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
When you succeed at keeping almost everyone in school, you must figure out ways to educate everyone you keep in school. — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
“The history of education is a seemingly endless parade of “new ideas” that are actually old ideas renamed.” — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
We should totally ban for-profit charters. For-profit's first obligation is to its stockholders, not to its children. — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
“By picking a few winners, the Race to the Top competition abandoned the traditional idea of equality of educational opportunity, where federal aid favored… — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
“The reformers define the purpose of education as preparation for global competitiveness, higher education, or the workforce. They view students as “human capital” or… — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
“While I have never been a member of any union, I was a friend of Albert Shanker, president of the American Federation of Teachers,… — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
In DC, policymakers think that if we can only have high enough standards, tough enough tests, and hold people accountable, we can close the… — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
“The corporate reform movement has co-opted progressive themes and language in the service of radical purposes. Advocating the privatization of public education is deeply reactionary. Disabling or eliminating teachers’ unions removes the strongest voice in each state to advocate for public education and to fight crippling budget cuts. In every state, classroom teachers are experts in education; they know what… — Diane Ravitch Copy Share
American Education has a long history of infatuation with fads and ill-considered ideas. The current obsession with making our schools work like a business… — Diane Ravitch Copy Share Image
