Comments on: Shrugs, sadness as Brandeis High School learns it will be closed

By: matt

matt — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 06:02:02 +0000

I, for one, am not sad to see this school go. Let’s stop walking around the problem; the students, if you could even call them that, are the problem. Not the administration, not the new standards for school evaluation, and certainly not the teachers. These kids are leeches to society, they only cause harm. As commenter “anonymous blogger” said: punk ass kids. You know exactly what kind of kids I’m talking about. The gang and thug culture that permeates these kids’ lives is at the root of crime across the city. As for those who say: “oh gosh, I did sorta well and graduated from Brandeis, look at me I succeeded! Don’t close this school!” Well, you didn’t succeed. I graduated from the best public high school in the city (lower west side anyone?) and am currently at Columbia University. Brandeis adolescent space-occupiers will never know the first thing about success (and no, its not cash money, hoes, and bitches). I feel for the teachers. They deserve more.

By: Leslie Vega

Leslie Vega — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 14:57:36 +0000

This school was made for kids who were not accepted to any other school because of grades, behavioral problems etc. Basically a last resort. The school has been filled with losers and trouble makers since it opened in 1968. I grew up on west 84 Street and as a child going to the elementary acroos the street, not a day went by that there wasn’t a stabbing, fight or an arrest. Sadly, 40 years later, nothing has changed. Close the school and make a new one for kids who actually WANT to learn

By: Kristina

Kristina — Sat, 22 May 2010 08:46:37 +0000

I was a student there thourght 05-09 it was my save house where i meet my best friends who are like sister and brother there teacher who like mother and father to me were i learn to love music to express myslef it sad to see it go it sucks beacause no one trying to stop it i will miss it but i will take my memories with me everyday and tell my kids about it someday

By: Michael M.

Michael M. — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:25:44 +0000

note to emilio sg,
I dare say that “integration … at street level,” at least in Manhattan, is on the decline — a predictable byproduct of the plummeting stock of affordable housing and the boom in luxo towers.

All part of Bloomberg’s vision for what New York City should look like. Our version of “Upstairs, Downstairs.”

By: emilio sg

emilio sg — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:18:41 +0000

Respose To Karen, We live in a diverse city that is intergrated only at street level. Our specialized high schools are more segregated today that they were 10 years ago, they currently have only single digit African American & Latino enrollment. Our response has been not to hold those schoools accountable but to create seperate but equal gifted schools in in poorer minority areas.

The DOE has made it a point to offer opportunity to all children and choice to all parents by allowing them to attend schools all over NYC. Historically school segregation is a function of neighborhood segregation, while I can understand the need for community schools in the elementary level for travel reasons and age, we have an obligation to break this neigborhood/ school segregation pattern in the secondary level. If not in NYC then might as well give up any hope of some day fullfilling the mandate of the Brown ruling. Let the new schools be open to students from all over NYC they still will be open to more affluent white students in the upper west side, why can’t they just apply there and attend the schools with the rest of the students. Let’s move past our phobias and be better new yorkers.

By: Marian

Marian — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:43:38 +0000

I am devastated by the decision to close Louis D. Brandeis H.S. I grew up in the “tenement/slum” that was torn down so that the high school could be built-we were “evicted”/dispossessed in 1961 (133 W. 84th St.!). What a shame now that all those years are gone to naught. For the record, that block, 84th between Columbus & Amsterdam, always had the reputation of being the worst block in the city – when we moved to the Bronx, the Crazee Babee was on the Amsterdam corner, I forget now what was on Columbus. Anyway, it’s all so sad – as usual, the City gives up on our kids. And, all you kids, you are the greatest! Try to get all the pictures you can, and get extra copies of your high school yearbooks, and the high school ring, if you can afford it. Try to hold raffles and have a communal financial input so that all the students can get at least one yearbook and a ring. Remember, our common bond is we are New Yorkers (even me, after 32 years in Florida! HA!). God bless you all at this time. You are our hope, our future; remember, if not you, then who? If not now, then when? Godspeed! “Deis” power! Also, Gina, the best of luck to you and your endeavers. Grow, but don’t change. New York Power! Amen!

By: Davisa

Davisa — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:01:20 +0000

I agree with both Mariela and Ariel. I am so sad that the school is closing. This is my third year at Brandies. Brandeis is like a home to me. As a child I have attended a zone elementary school and my zone middle school. When I was filling out my high school application, in 8th grade, I wanted to go to a school that I would HAVE to commute to. I wanted to expand my knowledge of getting around the city and meet new people from all five boroughs. I am just so confused on why that is a problem. Everyone is bringing up how Brandeis students come from homes that are far away in the Bronx and Brooklyn. Why does it matter? The point is that we want to learn and we CHOOSE to go to Brandies. I have friends that love Brandeis so much that they come from places in Queens and Brooklyn that are more than 90 minutes away. So? I am also confused about how ‘dangerous’ Brandeis is. I have been here for three years and never have I once felt unsafe. I am at Brandeis some days from 7 in the morning until about 6 in the evening, because of TUTORING AND INTERNSHIPS. There is no danger! In my view, Brandeis is such a good school. We have AP classes, honor classes, student government, Model United Nations, a Newspaper, various sports teams, chorus, festivals, abroad trips, and a Science club (which this year we even competed against one of the best high schools in New York–Brooklyn Tech). But yet, the neighborhood residents claim that this is a bad school and that it is dangerous! Brandeis has opporunities that many of the top high schools also have. Many of the students who have graduated here have gone on to terrific and Ivy League schools such as Cornell and Syracuse University. Some of the teachers here are so educated, excellent, and have changed my life in many ways. It is not fair that there are so many good students that come here and they have to suffer because of the bad students. It is time that the DOE and neighborhood residents understand how the sudents feel and how there is also another side of Brandeis, not just how you picture it to be!

By: Karen Kennedy

Karen Kennedy — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:43:55 +0000

I was going by what the DOE spokeswoman said in the Times article, but I just read the descriptions in the new high schools catalog. One of the schools is a transfer school with no geographic preference, and the other two do give preference to Manhattan residents, but not to residents of the neighborhood. I do not consider that to be a neighborhood school, by which I mean a school that residents of the neighborhood could attend automatically. In any event, my main point is that it was the DOE’s decision to close Brandeis for reasons of its own — the neighborhood residents had nothing to do with it.

By: annoyed teacher

annoyed teacher — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:33:34 +0000

@Karen:
Read the descriptions for the new schools: first priority goes to students in Manhattan/neighborhood!

By: Karen Kennedy

Karen Kennedy — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:25:42 +0000

As an UWS resident and the first commenter on this post, I would like to clarify that the residents of the neighborhood had absolutely nothing to do with the DOE closing Brandeis. The DOE did not close Brandeis at our request — we were as surprised as the Brandeis teachers and students. And the DOE did not do it to benefit neighborhood residents either — it is not planning to use the building for a neighborhood school, even though the UWS has no neighborhood high school and could certainly use one. On the contrary, the schools spokeswoman quoted in the Times article said that the new high schools the DOE plans for the building are designed to appeal to the current Brandeis students, who come from the Bronx, Washington Heights, and Brooklyn. Finally, the comments criticizing the Brandeis students and claiming that 84th Street is dangerous are ridiculous — many of us are on that block of 84th street daily, because our kids attend the elementary school across the street, and we have never had any problem with the Brandeis kids.

By: Sad student

Sad student — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:08:12 +0000

I’m a student at Brandeis Highschool and i’m sad that it has to go. Using the word ‘dangerous’ to describe our school is unbelievably pathetic and untrue. Hello…. none of us would be there if it was ‘dangerous’. Kids hanging out? Wake up….that happens everywhere, even in the so called specialized highschools. I can’t believe someone actually dared to say that we bring a “thug-life” to the community. Thug-life? Pleeeaase…thats is soo pathetic. Neighbors actually dared to say that they wouldn’t walk down 84th st because it was too dangerous. If the teachers, staff and students manage to make it down 84th st alive everyday, why can’t the residents? They just want to see our school go.

By: Bre

Bre — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:35:35 +0000

Some people are so ignorant, the community wants to our school to go? Why? Because the kids hang out after school, this is occuring in every school. For some people to be so rude it’s crazy i am apalled by the attitude of the residents of the UWS. Remember when you were children? All the students that attend Brandeis are not (slackers) students actually try hard to achieve their goals and for the DOE to just step in and report the closing of our school in 2010 is sad. Also the resident are exaggerating every kid that attends Brandeis is not a hoodlum. Brandeis is not a dangerous school trust me….and for the local residents to say that they wouldn’t send their kids here that’s ridiculous. So basically what the local residents are saying is that they want the hoodlums “us” to get out their perfect neighborhood. Wake up this neighborhood was never perfect and crime free & for the record this school has been here for many years. The residents are impyling to just close the school and make it better for their children but what about the kids that want to attend a school where they feel like they make a difference. By closing the school that proves nothing and it solves nothing. I’m gonna go out on the limb and say the new schools that will make up Brandeis in 2010 will not be academically strong either and the kids will chill afterschool. Then what will the residents do…………..

By: Gina

Gina — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:54:00 +0000

First of all, I was raised on the Upper West Side and attended Brandeis Annex and Brandeis High School. First to go was the annex, as Lincoln Center expanded, with three high schools in that area, someone had to go. Now the main building too? Come on, give us a break. It certainly must be that the now higher income bracket of the Upper West Side is what is really behind Brandeis High Schools’ closing. But do you even consider the history of this borough, this city, of the Upper West Side? Where are these children (yes, I said children) supposed to go? Why should they travel in from other neighborhoods? Because there are no High Schools in their neighborhoods, maybe? The DOE and the mayor both need to change policies with regard to teachers and the boroughs. Manhattan is the only borough where you see this type of division, division which as we all know is detrimental to the growth of this entire city. But the Upper West Side has become so out of touch with the rest of the city. The rents have always been a little higher here. Co-op and condo boards have always been tight here. You have big names on Columbus, Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues. But people have worked hard not just here, but everywhere in this city, to have a safe neighborhood. There are precints, loitering and tresspassing laws, drug laws which protect every area of the Upper West Side. They should be utilized & the schools should remain opened. This city is for everybody! What? You think that by doing away with the school you will live in a paradise? Think again my friend. Wake up people of the Upper West Side! The future is and will always be in the hands of our youth. Take care of them and you will take care of our city.

By: Mariela

Mariela — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:03:54 +0000

This goes to the neighbor of 30 years…WAKE UP and be realistic!! This school has been just like any specialized high school to many of us and for one I feel very proud!

By: annoyed teacher

annoyed teacher — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:19:20 +0000

And to use the word ‘dangerous’? Quite pathetic. I think you need to attend some classes to educate yourself. Our school is, by no means, dangerous! If is was, most of us wouldn’t work there! Wake up.

By: annoyed teacher

annoyed teacher — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:14:27 +0000

Seriously??? 84th st was scary 10 years ago before this was happening. Now that the neighborhood has improved (because people 10 years ago finally were able to afford the lower rents than on 79th st) people want the school to go. Get real and be realistic. If the neighborhood folks hadn’t moved in less than 10 years ago, my colleagues and our stadd wouldn’t have this ridiculously unfair situation. Let’s call a spade a spade.

By: Neighbor 30 years

Neighbor 30 years — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:52:18 +0000

I know some very dedicated, young teachers who have tried to make a difference at this school. I applaud their efforts. However, as a 30 year resident of the area, I am not at all unhappy to see the school go. I don’t have a problem with kids hanging out. Even the pricey independent schools have that problem. It’s part of being a teenager. It’s just that, until a few years ago, I would not walk down either the W 84 or W85 side of the building. It was so dangerous that neighborhood residents complained continuosly. Residents fought for years to improve the quality of the elementary schools for our children. Why can’t we get a decent, academically strong, neighborhood high school for them? Residents pray to get their children into Stuyvesant, Bronx Science, or an independent school. No one prays to get them into the neighborhood high school.

By: nelssy henriquez

nelssy henriquez — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:54:41 +0000

just like my friend shatasia i also attend Brandeis. what makes me up set is the fact that the music programs that we have in the school will be gone next year. Did the DOE ever think the domino affect this was goin to have, I guess they didn’t. Also, for those people that think we’re just a bunch of hoodlums there are kids out there who are just as smart as the kids that live in that area. Just because a chart says that 33 per cent graduate in 4 years. doesn’t mean that we don’t try to graduate. Saddest part of all the DOE isn’t giving us a chance to contuine our education. Good byr Brandeis!!

By: Shatasia Allen

Shatasia Allen — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:37:38 +0000

I am a student who attends Brandeis high school.. For one it saddens me to Know that the school i will graduate from June 2009 will be practically closed. Believe it or not I enjoyed attending Brandeis for four years..Ive experienced alot while there.. I have accomplished so many things that i would not have seen myself doing 4 years ago, and i am proud of myself.. Im so thankful for every teacher who helped contribute to my education.. For those who are excited to see the school close just know that theres still going to be a high school.. Theres really no getting around it..R.I.P Brandeis

By: Ariel

Ariel — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:52:25 +0000

As a graduate of Brandeis Class of 2008, it saddens me to hear of Brandeis closing it’s doors. Thorughout my four years there, i experienced so many things, I had oppurtunitues that I would not have come by had I went to my zone H.S. Students who attended Brandeis travel 2 hours a day, just so that they can get away from their zone High School. Personally my zone H.S in the bronx is Evander Childs, four years ago Evander was a mess, fights, stabbings…the list goes on and on. Zone H.S simply don’t work for kids who do not want to be apart of such violence. Attending Brandeis was one of the best choices I made in my life, I had various oppurtunies at Brandeis. I worked at the New York Historical Society for twp years, whose internshop was open only for Brandeis students. The teachers at brandeis teach their students with all they’ve got, the become almost second parents to us. Some of the best experiences of my life have come from Brandeis. Being a memeber of Student Government 08′ opened my eyes to the unbelieveable actions of the schools administration. It’s not fair that because the administration at Brandeis decided to blind themselves to the needs of the teachers and students; that the students and faculty must now suffer. As for why the school should’nt be opened ONLY for the children of the upper west side community, where will Brandeis kids go? What will happen to them? How many High Schools have the amout of Bilingual and Special Ed. students as Brandeis? Will the BOE open a special school for kids who come to this country seeking education but simply do not know the language yet? No, ofcourse they wont. Whats the Big deal of sending your child to Brandeis as is? Are you aware of the schools that Deis’ students have gotten into? Obviously not. Sweeping disadvantaged kids under the rug will solve nothing. It will create a bigger problem, such that these kids will have nowhere else to go. Becuase of the over-crowding in their “zone” high schools. I love Brandeis, and know that with help it could be something great. How can we learn, with no books? Or over crowded class rooms? Does that make sense? For those who support Brandeis, lets keep fighting….i’m sure we can make a differnce.