Memo to my friends in the Denver foundation world: As you ponder speakers to bring here in the coming months, please consider Diane Ravitch. She is a fascinating study in evolving policy positions. Great minds think alike. Diane Ravitch will be speaking in Denver in April. She will be well worth hearing.
Ravitch is almost impossible to peg politically or ideologically. She is a well-known critic of multicultural education. She served n the administrations of both George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. These days, she is a fierce critic of the overuse of standardized testing and the rapid growth of charter schools. See, for instance, this recent EdWeek blog post.
Having Ravitch speak here would ruffle some feathers, I’m sure. She gores many oxes, including mine. But I admire and appreciate people whose positions evolve, and who are willing to take on ideologues from both ends of the political spectrum.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Agreed. A fascinating challenge for a speaker who has the potential to challenge many people’s thinking on some things, including my own. Do you have any details on the event where she is supposed to speak?