Thursday, Jan. 06, 2011
Diane Ravitch: The Convert
When she was an official in George H.W. Bush's Administration, the education establishment couldn't stand Ravitch, who championed tough accountability measures, national standards and testing, and school vouchers, among other controversial reforms. Now that she has changed her tune and repudiated most of today's school-reform agenda, her former critics treat her like a conquering hero. Her appetite for publicity, coupled with her articulate and tireless critiques of just about every aspect of today's reform agenda, mean that Ravitch will enjoy a prominent platform again in 2011 as the go-to critic. Aside from improving curriculum, she does not have a reform agenda or alternatives of her own, but so far, her audience is not demanding them.