Black, Yellow, Brown or White ?

The Mayor is asking State Legislators to choose.  Do not let him lead you down this road. 

Mayor De Blasio is asking State Legislators to pass a law that is deliberately designed to exclude one disadvantaged ethnic minority in favor of another. This is egregious and totally against the Democratic principles of this city, state and country. It is a shame he is leading State legislators down this path. Supporting his proposal will promote racial division and undo years of progress in the State of New York.  Do not pass A2173.   Do-Restore the pipeline to achievement.

The NYC Independent Budget Office confirms, that under the Mayor’s plan Asian enrollment at the Specialized High Schools will be cut in half, 1500 Asian students will be targeted.

Asians certainly do not “own” these schools but they do not deserve to have laws enacted that deceitfully and deliberately exclude them. No racial group does. Diversity is highly valued in the Asian community, because they themselves are severely underrepresented in many areas. However, the Mayors proposal is highly flawed and totally ignores the obvious problem. New York City is not preparing students to achieve. 

The Real Injustice - Promoting achievement for students throughout the city has been discouraged for decades. The  SHSAT reveals the results of those policies. High achievement for black and brown students in non-charter public schools is practically non-existent today. This is the obvious and SHAMEFUL  reason many Black and Latinos struggle to gain admission to SHS today, they have been deprived.

High achieving classes do not segregate, in fact they integrate when they are provided in all schools throughout the city. No community is left out when there are enough seats for everyone who wants a seat at a good school.

The solution, therefore, is not to exclude but to include. Fix the K-8 pipeline to high achievement, expand GT programs, expand Specialized HS seats by adding more schools. In the interim expand after school test enrichment in underrepresented communities. 

Do not get rid of the barometer, instead, expand opportunity so the barometer can point in the right direction.