Diane Ravitch - Teachers Make a Difference - Ruby Ratliff and Lawrence Cremin

The speaker reflects on two influential teachers: Ruby Ratliff, a high school English teacher who instilled a love for literature and provided meaningful poetry as a graduation gift, and Lawrence Cremen, a graduate advisor at Columbia University who emphasized accuracy and personal voice in education. Both teachers left a lasting impact on the speaker's life and career.

What was unique about the classes taught by Mrs. Ratliff?

• They were conducted online.

• They focused only on American literature.

• They were mixed-ability classes with no special divisions.

• They were exclusively for gifted students.

Which literary work did Mrs. Ratliff quote in her graduation gift?

• The Great Gatsby

• Childe Harold

• Pride and Prejudice

• Moby Dick

What was the essence of the line from Tennesseans' formula given by Mrs. Ratliff?

• To read, to write, to think, and to grow.

• To dream, to dare, to do, and to achieve.

• To live, to love, to laugh, and to learn.

• To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

What field did Lawrence Cremen inspire the narrator to pursue?

• Literature

• Education History

• Physics

• Mathematics

What key values did the narrator learn from both Mrs. Ratliff and Lawrence Cremen?

• Conscientiousness and accuracy

• Empathy and compassion

• Creativity and innovation

• Leadership and teamwork