Mayor: Nix Social Promotion For 5th Graders

On Monday the citys 1.1 million public school children returned to school and began a new academic year that will see major policy changes adopted in all the schools. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who now wields more power over the schools than any mayor since the 1870s, is moving forward with the most far-reaching overhaul of the schools ever attempted, altering virtually everything, including the way subjects are taught, the number of superintendents on duty, and even altering the cafeteria menus.
But the issue that is currently creating the biggest stir is his decision to extend the "no social promotion" policy to fifth graders beginning this school year. The plan could affect as many as 12,500 fifth graders each year who have marginal standardized test scores but are promoted to sixth grade anyway.
Bloomberg told a group of parents, teachers and principals at Brooklyn Technology High School on Monday that the city would take steps to ensure that students come into the middle grades academically prepared. He also announced that the city would pump 20 million dollars into the effort beginning in October, including tutoring on weekends and holidays and supplementary instruction.
The mayor has made reforming the citys poorly performing education system a platform in his re-election bid and has said that if he fails to make progress with it, he does not deserve to be re-elected next year. But the mayors decision to end social promotion is seen by critics as a way of setting up a potential roadblock to middle school for failing students.
Randi Weingarten, president of the New York City Teachers Union, told The Queens Courier: "This is very smart. Ending social promotion at this level is important because our weakest link is our middle schools."
In his speech in Brooklyn on Monday, the mayor reiterated his personal commitment to fixing the schools. "Our shared mission is to dramatically improve education in our city, to have a caring and compassionate school system – with accountability," he said. "I’ve often said that the dream of achieving educational excellence in our schools is why I sought this job of mayor."
By taking such a direct hand (critics say a heavy hand) in running the schools, Bloomberg has honored his campaign pledge that public education would be his top priority. And for taking a stand, he gets nearly universal credit. "Every mayor should have done this," Dr. Arthur Levine, president of the Teachers College at Columbia University told The Queens Courier. "Bloomberg is the first person who has had the courage to embrace the schools and say, It’s my responsibility."
E-mail this reporter at cahir@queenscourier.com .