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Priscilla Lightbourne

Ms. Ravitch,

I read your op-ed piece in the Times with genuine excitement. With rare exceptions (Bob Herbert and Joe Nocera come immediately to mind) you don’t hear the education conversation focusing on families.

I lived in Portland, Oregon and have taught in Title One schools my entire career. Three years ago I moved to Baltimore to teach for Baltimore City schools. I wanted to see what life is like for an inner city school teacher. Portland has poverty and there is ...

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Categories: Current K-12 Teachers, Maryland, Oregon

David T.

As it is a Friday afternoon, late in the year, late in my career, I will not be nearly as eloquent as those whose letters have been posted on your website (a terrific idea, by the way).

To put the upcoming comment in context, I should note that I have been married to the woman of my dreams for 27 years, but I want you to know this: I LOVE YOU. Sure, you have heard it from countless teachers already, but ...

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Categories: Current K-12 Teachers, Oregon

Pacific Northwest Physician

Dear Dr. Ravitch,

I am a family practice physician in the Pacific Northwest. A few weeks ago I was driving home from the annual meeting of the Independent Physicians Association and I heard a rebroadcast of your interview on Oregon Public Broadcasting. The meeting was nothing more than a big “Rah-Rah!” session for healthcare reform which is a topic that makes a lot of us uneasy, and as I listened to your interview I found myself thinking, “My ...

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Categories: Oregon, Other Concerned Citizens

Tom in the Great Basin

Dear Ms. Ravitch,

I really enjoyed your book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. As a veteran teacher, I’m on the front lines and see clearly the consequences testing and corporate America have on our public school classrooms.

I teach 1st grade in a small rural school that is part of a very impoverished community. We have no PE, Art, or Music classes, and have narrowed our curriculum to focus almost ...

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Categories: Current K-12 Teachers, Nevada, Oregon, Utah

Harold A Treinen

Diane,

Your book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, is so true, and you did a great job writing it.

I’m focused on family, career as a 30 year Sr Accountant/Financial Analyst/Audit, and social justice, being very active in several social justice organizations like MoveOn.org, DFA, OFA, PDA, Bold Progressives, etc, and being a progressive Catholic.

I do a lot of reading, believe in supporting a just and vibrant government doing what it should, and connected with about 10 ...

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Categories: Oregon, Other Concerned Citizens