Education Nation //Jun. 30, 2011 // 9:36 AM
Diane Ravitch is an education historian, a Brookings fellow, and a member of the faculty of New York University. She’s also a former drag car racer and something of an education rock star (how many education experts can you name who have appeared on The Daily Show multiple times?)
On Wednesday, she was on a panel at the Aspen Ideas Festival with Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach For America. Though the two have many differences, the audience was surprised to hear how much they actually have in common. And at the center of both their agreements and disagreements is one steadfast belief: all children deserve great educations.
“No great country in the world can afford to lose its public education system,” Ravitch said.
We caught up with her after the panel to ask about her tremendous following of teachers, the crises in the United States, and where she agrees with Wendy Kopp.
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