A Professional: book review of "The Death and Life..." by Diane Ravitch

Hi Readers,

In The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education, Diane Ravitch argues that current US educational policies are not improving schools.  She urges us ( the citizens of the United States of America ) to "accept the fact that there is no single answer to educational improvement" (229).  For an education system to be successful, various factors need to be considered: a strong curriculum ( that is well-rounded and not limited to just reading and mathematics ), experienced teachers ( who are respected and secured by a union and tenure ), effective instruction ( that is not relying solely on test scores ), willing students, adequate resources ( where "Choice" is not perverted ), and a supportive community ( that explores various viewpoints to find better solutions ). 

Overall, this book is a quick read yet enlightening; a must have for educators and those affected by education in general.  In other words: EVERYONE.  Ravitch points out that "a democratic society cannot long sustain itself if its citizens are uninformed and indifferent about its history, its government, and the workings of its economy" (223).  Thus, "We must turn our attention to improving the schools, infusing them with the substance of genuine learning and reviving the conditions that make learning possible," states Ravitch (242).