An Education

For many years, Diane Ravitch was among the country’s leading conservative thinkers on education. The cure for what ailed the school system was clear, she believed: high-stakes standardized testing, national standards, accountability, competition, charters, and vouchers. Then Ravitch saw what happened when these ideas were put into practice and recanted her long-held views. The problem was not bad teachers or failing schools, as conservatives claimed, but poverty. She denounced privatization as a hoax that did not help students and that harmed the public school system. She urged action to address the root causes of inequality.

In this intimate and timely memoir of her life’s work as a historian and advocate, Ravitch traces her ideological evolution. She recounts her personal and intellectual journey: her childhood in Houston, her years among the New York intelligentsia, her service in government, and her leftward turn. Ravitch shares how she came to hold conservative views and why she eventually abandoned them, exploring her switch from championing standards-based curriculum and standardized testing to arguing for greater investment in professional teachers and in public schools. Bringing together candid reflections with decades of research on education, Ravitch makes a powerful case for becoming, as she calls herself, “an activist on behalf of public schools.”

Honest, forthright, and wise... an important and insightful contribution to the field of educational policy and a passionate defense of public education. --- A brave, candid, fascinating, and touching tale of finding and telling the truth! Extraordinarily inspiring. --- In this compelling story, we join the odyssey that transformed Diane Ravitch from a Jewish kid in Texas to an idealistic New York educator who saw how poverty affects education. Her insights have been transformative, compelling educators to recognize how the circumstances of children’s lives shape their experiences in school. --- With her unmistakable gift for narrative and the precision of a historian, Diane Ravitch—award-winning writer, fearless advocate, and unflinching truth-teller—invites readers into the richly layered story behind her public life. With grace, clarity, and rare courage, she traces her personal and intellectual evolution—owning past missteps and revealing the intimate experiences that shaped her convictions. More than a memoir, this is a testament to integrity, growth, and the enduring power of speaking truth to power. --- The stirring life story of a true patriot and hero in the struggle for good schools for all, An Education is a must-read to see how liberating it can be to rethink long-held beliefs when evidence proves them wrong. This riveting and honest reckoning gives me hope. --- ‘Diane Ravitch’ is a synonym for integrity. From school reformers’ darling to their harshest critic, she has viewed K-12 policy from both sides now. Part delicious personal autobiography and part travelogue across the political spectrum, this book will entrance anyone interested in how a truly open-minded expert came to denounce our test-driven education regime. --- Diane Ravitch’s telling of her remarkable journey—from a child of working-class immigrants to one of the most vital national education treasures and leaders—tells us so much about her unwavering support for public education and its role in our society. That would be beautiful enough, but the second thrill is how she brings her curiosity—an essential trait we nurture in students—to question her own views and change her mind. The result is this clarion call to protect and strengthen public schooling in America as the foundation of our young people—and our democracy. If you care about the future, read this book.