SAVE OUR SCHOOLS

As a father and grandfather, I am disturbed about the poor quality of education our young are receiving. I propose a major rebuild of our school system. Regarding K-12 education, here is my plan.

1. Special Schools Entrance Exams. Many politicians want to lower entrance standards or eliminate exams. This is reckless. It will lower academic quality. This is the wrong path. It merely locks out the most highly qualified students.
2. Double the Special Schools. The real solution is to double the number of special schools. Twice as many special schools. Not lower entrance standards.
3. Return to the "Three R's": "'reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic" in elementary schools, with a special emphasis on phonics, spelling, grammar, and basic arithmetic and mathematics. Poisonous ideologies such as DEI and CRT and transgender orthodoxy must be removed from school curricula.
4. Cap Salary.  Cap administrator pay, now averaging $179,000.  This will put more money in classrooms, where it's needed most. 
5. Fire Incompetents.  Expedite Department of Education hearings to dismiss incompetent teachers, or teachers alleged to have been inappropriate, who have been expelled from the classroom yet still get paid full salary while sitting in a Department of Education "rubber room". Hearings should take place within 30 calendar days of an allegation, with parental input. Union contracts must be negotiated with the understanding that each dismissed teacher will be replaced with competent ones. No union jobs will be lost… only incompetent or problematic teachers. 
6. Vocational Schools.  Treat the city's vocational schools with the same respect and funding given to college preparatory schools. Not every child is given to academics and many can earn more with a skilled trade than a college degree. Give them that opportunity. Carpenters, plumbers, electricians, bricklayers, and other forms of skilled labor are needed as there is a shortage of workers in these professions.
7. Teacher Requirements.  Raise requirements to become a teacher.  We must require teachers to take at least 60 undergraduate credits in their subject areas. Studies have proven that teachers with in-depth knowledge of their subjects produce better students.  Furthermore, every prospective teacher must have an overall 3.0-plus GPA.  C-minus teachers yield C-mi students.
8. Safety.  Take steps to ensure that schools are safer for students and teachers, as school crime rates have risen 21% in recent years.
9. Drugs.  A zero-tolerance approach must be implemented. Those caught using drugs, (including marijuana despite it is legalized for recreational use) in or out of school must be counseled about the dangers inherent to their behavior and how it affects their scholastic achievement. Those selling drugs to our minor children must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
10. Cellphones.  Distractions are epidemic in many classrooms. There is little of importance justifying students using the Internet, Facebook, or texting during class time. No teacher should have to quarrel with a student about paying attention and putting away a cellphone. The solution is simple: a citywide ban on use of cellphones during school hours. Cellphones will be stored in a safe room during school hours and returned when students leave school. Parents must not oppose the needs of good education and understand that cell phones are a major distraction.
11. Civics Classes.  Create a citywide civics curriculum focusing on important topics not covered elsewhere: personal finance, respecting police and acting appropriately when questioned or arrested, showing courtesy to others, basic understanding of government/Congress/Supreme Court/The Constitution. Emphasize the duty to vote, serve on a jury, and why personal participation are important to maintain democracy.  Teach the importance of a pluralistic society, acceptance of different peoples, races, religions, and cultures and the importance of renouncing and reporting sexual assault and inappropriate behavior. Teach the need to follow news and read newspapers, respecting environment, conserving energy, recycling waste, etc.
12. Restore The Fine Arts.  This important part of spiritual life has been gutted for generations.  Shame on a system that teaches almost nothing about great music, opera, dance, and Broadway in the cultural capital of the world. We should fund at least two fine-arts teachers in every school. Orchestras, bands, and live music and dance, as well as drama and fine arts, must be part of our youth’s upbringing.
13. Finance & Computer Education.  These must be an essential part of high-school curriculum:  Use of basic computer programs (MSW, spread sheets, etc.), checking, banking, spotting scams, etc.  Coding should be available to every child who wishes to learn it. 
14. Government.  Students should become part of local government and learn about it firsthand.  All students must be required to offer 20 hours of time during high school by volunteering to work in a government office, from councilman to statewide officials, so that they become more of a part of our democracy and see it working firsthand.
15. Discipline & Attendance. This generational problem — kids behaving badly and disrespecting teachers with no repercussions — sends a terrible message opposite of what students should understand:  respecting adults, education and teachers.  Systematic change is needed:  
    1. Students continuously disrespecting the class must not return and be placed in special classes or schools (newly created for this purpose) where psychology experts trained for troubled kids will address the problem;
    2. Those regularly missing classes will be removed and helped by trained experts; 
    3. Parents refusing to make their children attend will be brought to court or fined — whatever it takes to instill a duty to ensure that their children are in class and learning daily.
16. After-School Programs.  We must expand such programs to provide kids with activities and tutors to help those struggling in class.  Libraries should be more accessible and provide tutors to assist those in need.
17. Social Promotion.  This is the practice of promoting students to the next grade even if they fail to meet minimum requirements.  It must end!  Being left back may be hurtful, but being truthful is essential if kids are to be prepared for the real world.  Principals, administrators and teachers caught fudging or changing grades must be dismissed immediately and subject to criminal charges.  A completely new view of education is needed.
18. Recreation.  Kids play sports on parking lots of concrete. When kids face harsh conditions daily, it conditions them to ugliness and mediocrity. Efforts should be made to improve recreational facilities. Grass and trees are important to a child’s upbringing. 
19. Summer Programs.  Children should be exposed to nature and the countryside. They should know what forests, farms, and animals are. Summer exposure must be promoted as much as possible. Learning to respect nature and the environment suggests actually being within it.
20. Districts Autonomy.  Create regional districts allowing administrators greater flexibility to innovate.  The NYC Board of Education, a huge bureaucracy, snarls innovation.  Change comes slowly.  Greater autonomy gives schools opportunity to address problems intelligently and quickly.  The needs are different from school to school.  Let administrators innovate quickly with enhanced autonomy.