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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Arne Duncan Says… « Diane Ravitch's blog

Arne Duncan Says… « Diane Ravitch's blog:


Arne Duncan Says…

I hesitate to inflict this interview on my readers. You trust me to inform you and even on occasion to make you laugh with a good satire or parody. I try to shield you from pain and double-speak.
But I must share this with you.
Here is the latest interview with the Secretary of Education. It begins with a stomach-turning but accurate admission that education is the one thing that President Obama and the teacher-bashing governor of New Jersey Chris Christie agree on. How’s that for a reassuring opening?
When asked why the evidence for the reforms he is pushing seems weak, Duncan replies it is because they are new and therefore don’t have a 50-year track record. Oh, please, they don’t have any track record at all, yet he is pushing these untested, invalid measures on schools across the nation. Of course, everyone wants great


Tell “Won’t Back Down” to Back Off

A reader writes about the new pro-privatization movie “Won’t Back Down.” This is a movie celebrating the ALEC-inspired “parent trigger,” encouraging the public to think that parents should seize control of their public school, fire the staff, and hand the school over to a charter corporation. The film is produced by Walden Media, the same company that produced “Waiting for Superman.” It is owned by billionaire Philip Anschutz.
I’ve started a #BoycottWontBackDown campaign on twitter… blog about it and share it on Facebook as well. Tell the public WHY we should boycott this movie. This company should not make even more profit on the vilification of teachers and public schools.