Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Kids left out in the cold on education

The 2004-2009 (schools) plan called for 55,000 seats, but the new five-year plan will create fewer than half that amount.

The advocacy group Class Size Matters also blasts the plan, saying their own estimates show that Queens alone should be getting more than twice as many seats as the city is planning to build citywide. The borough has some of the most overcrowded schools in the city.

“We estimated that we needed more than 55,000 seats in Queens just to deal with existing overcrowding and yet this plan would provide less than 10,000 of those seats,” said Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters. “And that doesn't even count when we did our calculation of high school students in trailers.”

The DOE disputes the report, saying the group is misstating the facts and vastly overestimating the number of new seats that are needed. A DOE spokesperson said some overcrowding can be eased by using under-utilized schools more efficiently, by reconfiguring which grades are in which schools and by deciding what kind of schools are needed in particular neighborhoods.


Parents Say Capital Plan Ignores Queens's Crowded Schools

Look, developers' bottom lines are more important than education. As Bloomie says, "Get over it." Or he'll stick them in a toxic waste area.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Give me a break...

The NYC Public School System is arguably the most corrupt, wasteful, inefficient, worthless institution in the entire country.

The city could provided a million additional seats and the kids still wouldn't learn anything.

The system is a complete joke because it's run by politicians rather than educators.

The overall quality of the education has nothing to do with overcrowded schools.

It's has to do with teachers who don't give a crap and no one being accountable.

But then again, as long as taxpayers are the ones picking up the tab, why should the city care...!!!

Anonymous said...

When you hear the words"Organized Crime," most people think of the Mafia. When I hear those words, I think of the Board of Education. This system thinks only of themselves and could not care less about children. It's time parents banded together and DEMAND a say in their schools and in their children's education. We've all just had enough of this

Anonymous said...

where will the jackpot babies be warehoused while their illegal alien parents work off the books?

keep churning out those anchor babies, this is what happens.

Anonymous said...

ever since Albert Shanker politicized the teahers union in the 60s schools have been getting worse and worse. Of course the teachers unions also fight against things that could help like standardized testing and incentive pay for good teachers.
Lastly, in the traditional management vs union relationship, the the two sides are on opposite sides. But since the dems are in the pocket of the unions, and contribute heavily to their campaigns, the normal relationship does not exist. It's like letting the fox run the hen house.

Anonymous said...

a better nyc said...
"It's has to do with teachers who don't give a crap and no one being accountable."

You don't know what the hell you are talking about. NYC teachers are the most dedicated, overworked, underpaid professionals that there are. Why don't you work in Bed-Stuy for 40K a year? I'll bet you wouldn't last a week.


ew-3 said...
"ever since Albert Shanker politicized the teahers union in the 60s schools have been getting worse and worse. Of course the teachers unions also fight against things that could help like standardized testing and incentive pay for good teachers."


The UFT is in place to protect teacher's rights. But thanks Randi "sell out" Weingarten, the union is now a shell of what it used to be. Don't blame the teachers for the school's failures. Put the blame where it belongs: the families. A school is only as good as its population. Bad families equals bad school. Is the current philosophy of test-prepping the kids to death better? Or maybe you prefer the balanced-literacy approach where the students teach themselves and each other the material. And who should get merit pay? The teacher who teaches a gifted class and basically assured good scores or the teacher of a special ed class that with certainty will not be able to pull up any grades? You can do so much with what you're given.

Anonymous said...

Italian Girl...you're a discrace to your race.

"bad families equal bad schools'"...

What the hell does that mean..????

This is EXACTELY what I'm talking about...NO accountability in the school system.

You're saying to blame the families for the school system?????

You're a real jackass.

The teachers, principlas and administrators run the school and are responsible for the day to day operations....NOT the families.

"bad families equal bad schools"....ha, ha, ha.....

You just insulted every family in NYC who has a child attending a "bad" school.

Way to go!

Anonymous said...

It's the teacher's fault, right?

God are you stupid. You've clearly never worked in a city school. So since you don't know what you're talking about, shut the hell up.

Anonymous said...

a better nyc said...
"The teachers, principlas and administrators run the school and are responsible for the day to day operations....NOT the families."

Yes, and they can only do so much with the student population. (Students that are an extension of their families.)



"bad families equal bad schools"....ha, ha, ha.....

Why do you think schools in District 26 are among the best in the city? I can guarantee you the Bloods don't live there.

"You just insulted every family in NYC who has a child attending a "bad" school."

No, I never did. Families of the good kids know their kids are in a bad school and they'll even say it publicly. There are some really great educators in these rough areas. So, you're saying their students faliures are their fault? Don't be ridiculous. My kids education began long before they entered school. The primary eduactors are the parents. And since many of these kids come from homes you can't possibly imagine, they have no chance. So before you rant and rave nonsense, know your facts.

"Italian Girl...you're a discrace to your race.

You're a real jackass."

What's with the insults?

Anonymous said...

Where I came from...the Bronx...
the parents were always on the ass of the schools, be they teachers, administrators (even the janitors) to make sure their kids were properly educated!

When was the last time any of you
complainers attended a PTA meeting?

NYC schools now suck mainly because the lack of parents' involvement
as well as those substandard Albert Shanker ass kissing "teachers"...
period!