There's a radical - and wonderful - new idea here... that all children could and should be inventors of their own theories, critics of other people's ideas, analyzers of evidence, and makers of their own personal marks on the world. Its an idea with revolutionary implications. If we take it seriously.

A passion for learning...isn't something you have to inspire with; it's something you have to keep from extinguishing.

The only thing they [government] want is better data. But data doesn't tell people someone is well educated. It's a vicious circle. There is some myth involved. Some of this attitude has a long history.

Teaching is listening, learning is talking

Only secretly rebellious teachers have ever done right by our least advantaged kids.

If you ask me, taking on risk and being more daring is a real important part of creativity.

Some people thought that if you put pressure on kids, parents, and teachers and schools, the pressure alone would produce results. It appealed to people who think the quick fix for education is to threaten people. It's not a left-right division.