Diane Ravitch has brought the real facts and a commitment to quality public schools for all back into the debate about education reform. I read her blog and I especially appreciated her most recent book, Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatizaton Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools. Indeed, because of our strong opposition to the teacher scapegoating, high-stakes testing, and charter school privatization pushed by Governor Cuomo, the Green Party nominated a progressive teacher, Brian Jones, as our candidate for Lt. Governor.

I don't know where Ravitch stands other policies our Green campaign promotes, including public jobs for the unemployed, a $15 minimum wage, single payer health care, a ban on fracking, and progressive tax reform. Nor do I know if she supports our goal of building an independent left party of the working class majority that is free to act without the compromising entanglements of the major parties with their wealthy corporate funders. However, democracy is best served by a full and open discussion of the issues. Ms. Ravitch would be a wonderful addition to the debate on education along with the Green, Democratic, and Republican candidates.