Classroom teachers saw all of this coming but no one would listen to us.

Explains in great detail the problems with education today, from corporate investing to special "degrees" for superintendents. Very frustrating at the end with no real ideas for what I as a teacher can do to realistically fight back.

4.5. goodreads, when are you getting half stars???

This book gave me a very good perspective on the evolution of educational testing and its side effects due to NCLB and related policy changes. Ravitch backs up her points through empirical research (which she clearly understands and can debate) as well as case studies. The thing that will stay with me the most from this book is the frightening lack of emphasis in our current school system on subjects other than math and English. As an evaluation consultant, I hear "how do you measure progress?" all the time. I usually have an answer, but Ravitch points out that measuring the effectiveness of teachers cannot come down to just scores on standardized tests. Her arguments are persuasive, and the trends she points out are continuing. I don't have any better answers, but I am likely to keep her points in mind for many years to come.

For the content of the book: 5 stars. I applaud Ravitch's courage in going head-to-head with the elephant in the room when it comes to our school systems. She is absolutely right that the current reforms are hurting rather than helping our schools. I almost got up and cheered when I read her statement that teachers should not be evaluated based on a once-a-year test. These are important thoughts and opinions, and they need to be discussed and brought to the attention of people who can do something about it. However, for the writing of the book, I would give 3 stars. The text is very dense and sometimes overly wordy. The chapters are not arranged logically and swing back and forth from one topic to another. Sometimes the thoughts are difficult to follow. However, this is an important book, and I would encourage teachers to plow through it (difficult as it is to read) to be informed as well as to make a difference in our current educational mess.

Really great overview of a lot of the major education reform stories in recent American history and critique of the idea that a) testing and b) creating charter schools are the silver bullets for the US education system. Ravitch breaks down a lot of research showing that the evidence around both of those things is a lot murkier than it appears. My criticisms would be that occasionally the book is redundant and that I wanted more information on school funding and how charter schools impact the funding of existing neighborhood schools; she mentions that charter schools siphon off more motivated students or students with more informed parents from local public schools but doesn't discuss that funding also leaves the public school system.

A good book that solidified my ideas about testing and accountability in schools today.

This book is a real shame. The author seems so close to grasping capitalism as the cause of underperforming school and systematic dismantling of all public education, but can’t quite get there. At numerous points she cited the “brilliance” of Milton Friedman, spoke admirably about McGeorge Bundy, and other ghouls of modern serfdom and genocide, not least among them her former boss GHWB.

The opening chapters deal with Anthony Alvarado and Alan Bersin’s revamping of the NYC and San Diego schools, respectively. Ravitch goes on about how free-markets and choice are good, but then acts surprised when they utilize shock doctrine techniques (word to Naomi Klein) to force submission or removal of teachers and admins. She never makes the causal connection - throughout the book it is “free markets and choice are inherently good” and “what could have caused these horrible results?”.

The chapter on choice is worth reading, if only for the history of how school choice is rooted in racism and continues to pump out dishonest test scores based on expulsion and denial of any special needs, minority, and poor students.

I like that she’s a champion for public schools, and the U.S. could benefit from having her beliefs propagated, but the “centrist” goal for which she writes is shockingly naive. I’m still in the market for a book that discusses these topics in a way that isn’t entrenched in neoliberal apologia

The US is falling behind in education and repeatedly ranks around 24th or so in the world on test scores. Politicians answer? We need to raise our test scores. How do we do that? We drill kids on math and reading, we teach them test taking skills, and we hold teachers accountable. If scores don't improve? We fire teachers or close schools. Never mind that schools are doing anything in their power to raise test scores, even if it means spending little to no time on science, history, civics, literature, art, music and physical education. Never mind that states are lowering standards to make it appear that test scores are improving. Never mind that some schools are even starting to cheat on test scores, out of desperation. Never mind that schools that improve their test scores get a high rating even if the overall quality of the school is low or dangerous, whereas excellent schools that don't improve test scores get a low rating. Because really what matters is that our test scores improve, right?

Except here's the thing: The nations that repeatedly score higher than us do not drill their students only on math, reading, and test taking skills. They give their students an excellent all around education on all subjects in the liberal arts and sciences. Because their students are so well educated, their test scores are higher.

And here in the US? Politicians are so distracted by test scores and data, they're forgetting the most important thing: Children need to be educated. Our nation's drive for results is reducing the quality of education and isn't even increasing test scores and graduation rates.

It is downright scary the direction our educational system is heading. We certainly don't need to get rid of testing all together, but we need to turn the focus back to inspiring a love of learning in children.

If you're at all interested in education, if you're an educator, or if you have a child in school, you need to read this book!

Required reading for everyone invested in the success of our schools--which should be everyone but unfortunately isn't.