Reflection on Diane Ravitch's visit to I.S. 89 Parents Across America Forum

On February 7^th, 2011 I attended The Parents Across America Educational Forum in which the keynote speaker was Dr. Diane Ravitch.  In the past my knowledge of Ms. Ravitch was extremely limited I heard the name and knew this person is a force to be reckon with in the educational system, but it wasn’t until interacting with my own Professor that I gained further insight on Ms. Ravitch.  I had researched Ms. Ravitch extensively online and discovered that she is an education historian, was the secretary of education in the Bush and Clinton administration and was Adjunct Professor of History and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Dr. Ravitch also has a number of books out, her latest “The Death of An American School: How testing and choice undermine education”. This woman has worn many hats within education, too bad she is not NYC’s School chancellor instead of our current nyc chancellor Cathie Black!

     I entered PS/IS 89 where the forum was held, after doing my research finding it easy to find so much information on the world wide web and several YouTube showcasing this woman’s view of education, I knew that I was entering an insightful forum.  Dr. Ravitch emphasized the problems with charter schools; though at one time she was for them down the line she viewed them as one of the educational reforms that ultimately is not working to improve children’s learning. The recent layoffs in schools within nick has cause controversy (Diane Ravitch feels this strategy isn’t sufficient at all) crowded classrooms make it overwhelming for teachers to teach and students to learn due to less attention within the classroom.  Ms. Ravitch suggested reasonable limits on classroom size so teachers are overwhelm so children get attention they deserve.   Once a supporter of charter schools Ms. Ravitch feels it’s a waste in money, the goal of charter schools from what Ravitch explains is to drive public school education out of existence. This is done my privatizing schools and allowing entrepreneurs with no educational background to create these charter schools (charter schools was once known to help students with special needs and have them return back to their public school, however that has changed).  In the creation of charter schools to uphold a reputation for high scored by NCLB standards they have the power to kick low performing students out of charter schools and put them into public schools.  Ravitch also breaks down that out of the U.S as a whole only 14% of charter schools perform better than public schools 46% there was no difference and 37 % produced worst results.  Along with her dislike for charter schools Dr. Ravitch feels students are only trained to take high stakes test instead of receiving a nourishing education. In my opinion from what I interpret she is saying it’s like a make or break to keep public schools standing, how teachers and students will suffer the consequences she feels this NCLB reform for schools to be “100%” by 2014 is unrealistic. I too agreed on that, I feel it’s unrealistic also due to children’s learning abilities and their environment etc. Ms. Ravitch goes into the issue on poverty; the students less than sunny side of their neighborhood, food and nutrition and how this can effects a students learning.   Dr. Ravitch explains how it’s challenging to excel in ones education with these barriers in the child’s way, how some do overcome and excel despite these barrier but most do not.  As I listened to Diane she made a lot of sense, we are in 2011 now so here in my hometown of NYC, all over the U.S.  education within public schools have to be cleaned up 100% in only 3yrs or consequences are suffered with possible public school shut downs is crazy!

     Dr. Ravitch emphases that parents are the sleeping giants in regards to the whole debate of NCLB, charter schools and etc.  In the world of modern technology Diane suggests parent’s facebook, twitter and blog about the problems faced in education in the US today, to not give up on their children as well as others the parents have the real power and some don’t realize it they must fight for their children’s rights. Diane made so many good points in her speech and I learned a lot, even from how she pointed out how NYC made test easier, lower the standard passing grade so children can pass NYS test due to this threatening NCLB theory (In turn the student is not only receiving an education that isn’t nourishing and trained to learn high stakes testing lessons but they are dumbing down students intelligence as well!)I suggest anyone that wants to learn more about the educational system, current educators or future use this woman as a reference to learn what is going on in today’s educational system.   I am glad that I was able to attend this forum.