(The author of this guest post, a teacher at a New York City public high school, wishes to remain anonymous. Names and other identifying details have been changed.) “I can’t wait to come back to this school and throw money at everyone,” said Derek, an 11th grade boy in one of my classes. “Hit all… Continue reading So We Beat On, Boats Against the Current: A Teacher’s Take On Schools That Fail Students
It was supposed to have been a done deal. As covered in great detail here, on Wednesday, March 3, after a series of cryptic and downright nonsensical statements about how coronavirus absences would affect middle and high school admissions for September 2021, Mayor Bill De Blasio said at a press conference: “Attendance will be frozen… Continue reading A Matter Of Trust: Coronavirus, the Department of Ed & NYC Families
On Sunday, March 1, I posted NYC School Admissions… and Coronavirus? asserting that: At press time, there were no diagnosed cases of the novel coronavirus in New York City. A half-hour later, the first confirmed case was reported. (I never claimed to be clairvoyant.) My post discussed how several NYC schools had asked families who’d… Continue reading NYC School Admissions… and Coronavirus? How Parents Forced the Department of Ed To Take Action!
At press time, there were no diagnosed cases of the novel coronavirus in New York City. However, also at press time, several schools were asking families who had traveled to affected areas over the President’s Week Break to self-quarantine for 14 days. All schools have been asking – begging! – for years for parents not… Continue reading NYC School Admissions…and Coronavirus?
The whispers started in early February. Numerous parents reported they’d heard that the Department of Education was quietly planning to unscreen high schools for September 2021 admissions. As one wrote me: At the school where I teach we found out that out of all the available seats for incoming freshmen, three quarters now will be… Continue reading The Department Of Ed That Cried Wolf: Why Parents & Students Have Trouble Trusting It
In August 2019, the School Diversity Advisory Group (SDAG) recommended that the New York City Department of Education (DOE) get rid of elementary school Gifted & Talented programs. Their argument was that G&T programs cause segregation, and that offering enrichment to some, rather than all, children was inequitable. They proposed instead an “Enrichment For All”… Continue reading Are Dual Language Programs Next On the Chopping Block?
Princess Francois is an Assistant Principal at the Math, Engineering, and Science Academy Charter High School (MESA), in Bushwick, Brooklyn. In 2019, she was New York State’s only winner of the National Milken Educator Award. What makes this educator outstanding and how can her practices be extended to other NYC schools? New York School Talk… Continue reading Forget the Academy Awards, Meet the NYC Assistant Principal Who Won the ‘Oscars’ Of Teaching!
I have been called a racist many, many times. Because I don’t agree with the Mayor’s proposal to get rid of the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). Because I don’t think that sitting low-achieving students next to high-achieving students will magically raise test scores. Because I think school rezoning is just a way to… Continue reading If This Is a Victory For Integration Then, Yup, I’m a Racist
New York City General Education public school Kindergarten applications for 2020 were due on Tuesday, January 21. At the last minute, the Department of Education extended the deadline to Sunday, January 26. It was absolutely, positively not due to technical glitches with the very expensive MySchools Parent Portal. (For tips on how to circumvent the… Continue reading A Revolutionary Rezoning Plan To Increase School Diversity, Bring in More Funding & Make Parents’ Lives Easier! Would You Support?
I have a confession to make: I’ve always been confused by New York City calling itself “progressive” when it comes to education. To me, progressive means moving forward, implementing new, bold, downright radical ideas, bucking the status quo and breaking down old – especially failed – systems. Yet when it comes to educational policy, NYC… Continue reading New Report Asks: Why Does Progressive New York City Have Larger Student Achievement Gaps?
