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Abstract
An author, Diane Ravitch, is a famous historian of the American educational system. In her book, The Death and Life of the Great American School System, she analyzes the history of the reform which took place at the end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the 21st. The observation of the reformat work persuaded her of the ineffectiveness of learning practice, reminding them that the focus on teaching should be done on thinking and understanding rather than scoring (Ravitch 5). The book consists of eleven chapters. One refers to a particular component of educational reform and its impact on the system.
The first introductory chapter is a description of Ravitch’s views on a modern educational system. Towards the end of the chapter, the author gives some examples of how to improve the educational system. The second chapter is devoted to the No Children Left Behind (NCLB) act and A Nation at Risk report comparison. The author describes the process of obligating each state to develop its curriculum. This innovation led to an inefficient training program (Ravitch 19). Once being an advocate of the NCLB Act, the writer comes up with the decision that the act has nothing to do with the current situation. Thus, she refers to A Nation at Risk report that, on the other hand, defines the detailed instruction of what should be included in the curriculum.
In the sixth chapter, the writer specifies some federal educational programs, including the NCLB act. Ravitch indicates that its failure was caused by focusing on the scores achievements instead of knowledge acquiring (Ravitch 103). NCLB act resulted in the overall reduction of students’ academic level rather than its increase. Further, in the ninth chapter, she will recall her favorite teacher’s methods (Ravitch 169) and contrast them to the modern educational requirements.
The last, eleventh chapter includes the list of failing strategies, highlighting that many people knew about the disadvantages for years. Ravitch warns about the future collapses if no improvements are made (Ravitch 229), and gives the precise list of renovations that can be made.
Critique
Diane Ravitch’s experience as an educational expert resulted in the logical analysis of the American learning system. The author criticizes the essential reforms and gives reasonable explanations. Primary support of the NCLB approach convinced her of the ineffectiveness of the act. The author makes several specific statements, covering each aspect of the studying process. Ravitch justifies the learning approach which should meet the dominant aim of obtaining the knowledge rather than getting test scores. The analysis of the reading and mathematics-based curriculum shows less or no proficiency and is “actually degrading the intellectual capacity of students” (Altschuler par. 3). While complex education makes a student’s overall intelligence sufficient for both exam pass and further successful study.
Moreover, Ravitch emotionally accuses the modern school teachers. Comparing them to her favorite teacher, she contrasts methods of teaching. According to her own experience established in the school years, the educator must be both demanding and encouraging. Then, the students are motivated to learn. Finally, the author fairly criticizes the payment method of teachers’ salaries. Based on precarious test scores, the teacher’s wage is paid on a merit basis. The writer states that this practice does not stimulate educators to teach, only improves useless scores. Ravitch concludes her persuasive and truth-revealing book with a request for effective educational reforms implementation. The author believes that these reforms will elevate the student’s level and provide the necessary experience.
Works Cited
Altschuler C., Glenn 2010. The ‘Great American School System’ Flunks Out. Web. 2015.
Ravitch, Diane. “Hijacked! How the Standards Movement Turned into the Testing Movement.” The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. Ed. Diane Ravitch. New York: Basic Books, 2010. 15-30. Print.
Ravitch, Diane. “Lessons Learned.” The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. Ed. Diane Ravitch. New York: Basic Books, 2010. 223-242. Print.
Ravitch, Diane. “NCLB: Measure and Punish.” The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. Ed. Diane Ravitch. New York: Basic Books, 2010. 93-111. Print.
Ravitch, Diane. “What I Learned about School Reform.” The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. Ed. Diane Ravitch. New York: Basic Books, 2010. 1-14. Print.
Ravitch, Diane. “What Would Mrs. Ratliff Do?.” The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. Ed. Diane Ravitch. New York: Basic Books, 2010. 169-194. Print.
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