State Upset About Schools With iPods, Sleeping, "Low-Level Thinking"

Three public high schools are so bad, an independent external review commissioned by the state Department of Education has recommended that they be shut down. The review lambasted Jane Addams High School in the Bronx, August Martin High School in Queens and W.H. Maxwell High School in Brooklyn, three "persistently low-achieving" schools who have been flagged previously by the city for bad performance. But what did the state see that could have caused such harsh recommendations?

According to the Post, the state wrote about Jane Addams HS (which graduated only 48 percent of its students last year): "After visiting 51 classes, the team determined that there was little evidence of learning taking place...Students were observed listening to headphones and communicating on mobile devices -- including telephone and text messages -- in hallways and in classrooms. Students were observed asleep in many classes."

It said that for students at Maxwell HS, "lateness appeared to be expected, and was accepted by the staff." And at August Martin HS, "most classes were involved in copying notes, looking up definitions and other low-level thinking activities." One student testified to that: "I could just go into class and sit there and still pass," said August Martin HS junior Jonathan Davis, 16.

As depressing as that report is, it's comforting to know that there are some bright spots at other city public schools: a father of a first grader posted a teacher's email to parents on reddit, which gives a positive report about one class who are certainly doing more than low-level thinking activities with their "student-directed learning":

I should let you know that today was yet another productive and fascinating day in the life of the students (and teachers)...What was supposed to be a 40 minute exploration involving the construction of a clock face turned into a day long project. Students built their clocks and then went on to write detailed directions on how to construct homemade clock faces for the Kindergarten classes. Directions took the form of diagrams, descriptive paragraphs, How To Texts and Power Points (of course), and instruction manuals. Some students researched Roman Numerals and created variations on their clocks. Others learned about units of measurement and built compasses in an attempt to be as precise as possible!...I'm afraid to admit I could have stayed at home...

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By Ben Yakas in News on March 3, 2011 1:37 PM

Comments [rss]

Shaniyaz Chowdhury

I solemnly agree that NY Post always avoid the real stories and bring up some undesirable factors. And they are in a mission to exaggerate the false information. August Martin is one of the best school under NYCDOE. To the reporters of this article, I want to ask them some questions.
- The reporters interviewed several students and ask them about teachers performance and their standpoints. But...
Q.1 - Did they ask if they [the students] go to the classes regularly?
Q.2 - Did they ask if they even do their works in classroom?
Q.3 - Why they [the reporters] are after teachers like that? What's the main point they are trying to make? Are they trying to say that the teachers of August Martin are irresponsible? That they don't do their job at all? Just sit there and let students do whatever they want to do?
- This doesn't make any sense. Because if this is the situation, the teachers would've been laid off already.
- Further more, August Martin has five outstanding academies - Aviation & Technology, Business & Law, Medical Technology, Culinary Academy and Communication Art Academy. These academies are doing great jobs as we are moving on. The selected students [students with 80% or higher average] from Aviation Academy gets to fly aircraft and train themselves as pilots every Friday. The students from Business & Law gets to visit the Wall Street and examine the economic situation. And later, they also make business plan upon their data. Medical Technology students does various experiments using new medical science. Culinary students cooks and visits popular restaurants to learn more about their future career opportunities. And the Communication Art students paints awesome artifacts and visits famous museums to learn more about the role of art in these modern days.

- I just want to say that in future NY Post better not publish untrustworthy stories which may confuse people about certain subjects.

- I assume that a group of people who doesn't want August Martin to rise up higher than other public schools paid NY Post to publish a false scandal about August Martin. And that's why they are after August Martin to find unnecessary factors to shut it down. Then they would plan to divide this building into several schools, which will not be helpful to The NYCDOE at all!

A S

Closing a school is meaningless, when you can't get rid of the personnel. The "excessed" principal and teachers continue to receive a paycheck and most eventually find a new placement within the school system. Needless to say, all of the "students" find a new placement within the school system. The same terrible people are simply part of new entities. It accomplishes precisely nothing.

Brian_Damage

It was nice to read that letter. Students latching onto a project and running off with it is pretty much the best thing. I wish there were more positive news about schools and education to be found.