Mamdani’s schools chancellor prizes equity over excellence |
Welcome back from the holidays, students — can you spell “integration”? Or better yet, define it?
Probably not, since only 29% of New York City eighth graders are proficient in reading at grade level, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress’ “Nation’s Report Card.”
How about doing “integration”?
Even less likely, since only 23% of eight graders are proficient in math, and by 12th grade, where calculus and integration are usually taught, far too many students have long fallen behind in algebra and given up entirely on math.
For comparison, calculus is mandatory or often required for university-track high schoolers in countries such as India, Germany, France and Russia.
“Integration” is important when Kamar Samuels, the city’s newly appointed schools chancellor, is best known for “integration initiatives,” for which he scaled back gifted and talented programs, reduced middle-school screens for admissions and merged successful programs (sounds far nicer than “closed successful programs”) into lower-performing schools.
Indeed, hours before his own inauguration, Mayor Mamdani emphasized Samuels’ focus on integration and equity in his announcement to justify the appointment, a clear signal of what lies ahead — a page from the appalling playbook of former Mayor Bill de Blasio and failed Chancellor Richard Carranza, who did nothing for merit, basic reading........