Diane Ravitch appeared on the Daily Show recently and talked about her new book, Death and Life of the Great American School System. She makes the case for not blaming teachers for the failure of our schools, especially inner city schools in cities struggling with poverty and unemployment. She points out that students have to be ready for school. The readiness factor is directly linked to forces outside the control of teachers and schools. Good pre-school education, adequate nutrition, access to good healthcare, and parents that are fully employed leading meaningful lives all contribute to students entering school ready to learn.

She also talks about the need to move away from a test and drill school culture, comparing the US to Finland. In Finland, they do not focus on high-stakes testing, but rather on teachers. Teachers in Finland are well compensated, respected, and provided with ample time to grow professionally.

Watch this short, but good interview with Jon Stewart at:

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