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Remember how, in 2001, when he was first running for mayor, Michael Bloomberg vowed to require all public school students to wear uniforms, to bring in private companies to take over long-failing schools, and to re-evaluate tenured teachers every two years?
These are among the fun facts included in a self-evaluation Bloomberg released today, running through all the promises he made in his 2001 and 2005 campaigns, and reporting that he’s followed through with most of them (97% in 2005, the report says).
The list of education promises Bloomberg terms stick-a-fork-in-it “Done” (as opposed to those he “reconsidered”) includes many that did obviously happen, but it also includes claims that could inspire challenge. Four promises that caught my eye:
The full list is available here, and I’ve compiled all education promises below the jump (divided up by the ones Bloomberg “reconsidered,” like the uniform idea, and the ones he calls complete).
Here are the education promises Bloomberg made and deemed either “Done” or “Done*” (meaning nearly done):
Education promises listed as “launched”:
Programs listed as “reconsidered (all introduced in 2001):
Excellent. Will absorb later.
First thought — it’s all smoke and mirrors: How about a list of all the policies instituted by Bloomberg and Klein with NO warning, no public review, in the dead of night, or with utter disdain for the law?
One “fait accompli” after another is incongruous with democracy, let alone the intellectual debate that should be part and parcel of an educational philosophy.
P.S. Where was Mayor Bloomberg’s campaign promise to appeal, appeal, appeal the CFE lawsuit decisions, let alone overturn term limits?
Here are some original campaign promises, from the Bloomberg 2001 campaign website:
“Better Teachers, Smaller Class Sizes and More Accountable Schools
Studies confirm that one of the greatest detriments to learning is an overcrowded classroom. According to The New York Times, there are more than 28 students for most NYC elementary school classes — 30 per class for junior high and high school.*For students, a loud, packed classroom means a greater chance of falling behind. For teachers, class overcrowding means a tougher time teaching andgiving students the attention they need. Here are a few new ideas to improve schools and standards, and to reduce class sizes:
“1. Hire more certified teachers to reduce class sizes — especially in the K-3rd grades.” [NOTE: This clearly hasn't happened ; instead there are 2000 fewer teachers and way more school secretaries, educrats and out of classroom personnel and administrators. Class sizes rose this fall by the greatest amount in ten years.]
“2. Take full advantage of federally-funded classsize reduction programs.” (hasn’t happened; spent less of those funds to reduce class size.))
“3. Free up more space for students in overcrowded schools by moving bureaucrats out.” [they moved some district offices out the first year, but with the creation of all the new small schools and charters, they have created the need for much more administrative space, losing precious classroom instructional and intervention spaces in the process.]
Here are even more unfulfilled campaign promises:
“Promise: Integrate and coordinate early child care and education system to foster the healthy development of all children, especially those children who are low-income and disadvantaged. ACS, DOE Launched”
Actually, this year they eliminated 3,000 ACS daycare slots throwing hundreds of new students into already overcrowded Kindergarten students.
“Promise: Build a major high school and university complex on Governors Island in partnership with one or more private universities.”
Actually, one small HS is now being sited on the island - eight years after making this promise.
Here is the original campaign promise, dated October 17, 2001:
“We should build a major high school and university complex on Governors Island in partnership with one or more of our great private universities. The room is there for athletic facilities, laboratories, workshops, classrooms, etc. This would also free up many existing buildings in all boroughs for junior high school, elementary school and special education uses.”
Nothing has happened along those lines.
Here’s another original promise, included in the Feb. 2003 campaign report card — that he never accomplished, but is missing from follow up statements, including the latest:
“Have the Transitional Finance Authority sell bonds backed by the sales tax revenues currently committed to paying of the Municipal Assistance Corporation debt that ends in 2007 and use that money to build new schools.”
Here’s another from 2005 — apparently claimed as “done” in this year’s message:
“Assemble city-owned land for private development to build large-scale housing developments, schools and hospitals
HPD, Planning,
HHC,
Education
A City taskforce, led by Deputy Mayor Doctoroff, was created to review City owned property (Parks, DOT, Education) for potential development.
To Launch in 2003
This is not happening as of yet.
Not Done”
I would say this is still not done.
How about his statement re building stadiums instead of schools, on 12/7/01:
“I think everybody understands we have to modernize our facilities,” he said at a news conference, separate from one held by Mr. Giuliani. “We have to have the best facilities for sports, for entertainment. We have to have housing, we have to have schools, and there are conflicting needs.”
Mr. Bloomberg added: “I don’t yet know the numbers, whether you could justify stadiums at this time. Clearly we’re going into very difficult economic times, and we’re going to have to make some choices.”
And can someone tell me what is ParentCorps?
Great additions from Leonie.
I have one more, though it may have come after the campaign–he also promised to rid the city of trailers by 2012. He later “reconsidered,” saying he would not actually do so.
[...] a bit on what the definition of “done” is, as Elizabeth Green makes clear in her analysis of the education promises made and [...]
[...] campaigning for his third term as Mayor, Bloomberg recently claimed to have fulfilled nearly all of his original campaign promises when it comes to [...]
[...] campaigning for his third term as Mayor, Bloomberg recently claimed to have fulfilled nearly all of his original campaign promises when it comes to [...]
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