Jackson Heights Life

A headline from from today's Daily News:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg will run as Republican in bid for third term

The Mayor definitely brings a brand name to the City.  Where does that leave challengers?  By the way is Democrat Bill Thompson an official challenger?

I am sitting on my hands not to comment on how I feel about this would-be Emperor and how he has messed up the Board ... excuse me, Department ... of Education in the past 8 years and how he handled the black out and just the hypocrisy of him running a 3rd term when he so strongly advocate the 2 term law when the option was discussed for his predecessor and I guess I'm not doing such a good job sitting on my hands ...

Today His Honor somehow convinced the Bronx Republican Party to back him in November giving him their line on Election Day.  Money makes the world go around but this blatant disregard for the voters wishes, as clearly enunciated in two separate referendums, is only possible because the majority of the City Council led by Chrissie Quinn did not stop it when they had the power to do so.  Here's the list of the Queens delegation which helped facilitate this seizure of power:

Leroy Comrie, Jr.
Melinda Katz
Diana Reyna
James Sanders, Jr.
Helen Sears
Peter Vallone, Jr.
Thomas White, Jr.
(Anthony Como voted no but also voted no on referendum amendment.)

Remember what they did when they ask for your vote.

If we sit on our hands this election cycle things will only get worse.
Hopefully, this will be an ongoing discussion on this site and in our community.   :tickedoff:

Considering we live in a society where test scores are the key to scholastic advancement, that's no small thing (and yes, I think scores are overemphasized, but that's the reality we have to deal with).

Also, it is more than just test scores.  Since the Mayor took control of the schools, graduation rates are up by more than 11%.  Prior to mayoral control the graduation rates were stagnant for a decade.  Moreover, the graduation rates of Blacks and Hispanics are improving at a higher rate than White or Asian students and, thus, the gap between them is closing.  Meanwhile the dropout rate has declined and the number of Regents Diplomas has steadily risen.

I also cannot see any logical reason why the UFT and our City Council representatives oppose the expansion of charter schools.  This just seems to be a knee-jerk reaction by the union and the politicians they throw money at.  It is NOT in the best interests of our children.  It's ironic that President Obama wants to increase the number of charter schools while our democrat controlled City Council and State Legislature are resisting any such move. 

In the end I guess we have to respectfully agree to disagree, but this type of dialogue is healthy and important.

Not to wake the argument up again, but...

I have to disagree that test scores are "key" scholastic advancement. Sadly, as a country we rely too heavily on test scores that ultimately only tell us that our children know how to take tests. And perhaps that allows young people to get ahead in school, but there's no standardized testing system in the real world. If I had any money I'd bet you that the overwhelming majority of congressional representatives, and Wall St. CEO's couldn't pass the 8th grade regents in any subject. SO why are we preparing our children to be really good at something that has no bearing on their actual future ?  I've encountered many bright and articulate young people in the schools that I work at, but ask them to write a sentence and it's problematic. Try and engage in a discussion about US History with High School students and if it's not in the form of multiple choice answers very few can apply their learning to their lives. Of course, the push towards over testing our children came along with Bush's No Child Left Behind Act which linked school funds to standardized test scores. By and large, NCLB is  failure and has done more to hurt this country's students than help them. 

By the way, Bloomie was a HUGE donor to both G.W's election campaigns there's reason enough to not like the man.

Back to education, if I understand correctly since mayrol control, none of the key positions at the Department of Education are staffed by educators. I get running things like a business, and sure perhaps an MBA is valuable somewhere in the system, but how do you make decisions about NYC's educational system without any knowledge of education ? 

Aronan, I never said test scores should be the key to scholastic advancement.  What I said is that the weight given them is a reality we have to deal with.  A perfect 4.0 GPA can be derailed by a bad SAT score.  You can finish at the top of your class at Harvard Law, but unless you pass the standardized test we call the bar, you can't practice law.

Like it or not, our students need to do well on these tests.  My personal opinion is that these tests are an impediment to education.  But until we change the way our educational system evaluates students from k-graduate school test scores will be the key to advancement.

And yes, I can't stand the fact Bloomberg gave money to Bush as well as other Republicans.  On the other hand, it's the democrats in our State Legislature who are blocking a vote on gay marriage something I think the Mayor supports.