Public Ed Advocates Wary of Democratic Establishment—And Here's Why

Amid fights over trade deals, climate policy, and the minimum wage, the battle to save U.S. public education from the forces of corporatization and privatization has gotten minimal attention during the Democratic presidential primary.

Diane Ravitch wants to change that.

The education historian, professor, and blogger has requested a face-to-face meeting with presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, to discuss—among other things—”the depth of antagonism towards charter schools among teachers.”

Ravitch has the backing of more than 2,000 supporters, who have signed a petition requesting that Clinton respond to Ravitch’s request “and meet with her so you may gain a better understanding of the educational issues in America.”

As Yevonne Brannon, chairwoman of Public Schools First NC, told education activist Anthony Cody this week:

Clinton’s longstanding support for charter schools—for which she caught flak at Tuesday’s National Education Association (NEA) annual meeting—is but one cause for concern among progressive educators.

The draft Democratic Party platform, for example, “contains a lot of reformer lingo,” Ravitch wrote over the weekend.