Comments on: Beach Channel supporters lay out their case against closure

By: NYC Educator

NYC Educator — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:24:11 +0000

Also, small schools are not neighborhood zoned schools, and these neighborhoods will be left without zoned schools. That in itself is unconscionable.

By: Brian Becerra

Brian Becerra — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 06:31:05 +0000

I’m sorry, but I have to speak up. In the name of all the students that actually did learn and have acheived a good education at Beach Channel, I consider anything the person above said as an insult. Personally, its not the staff thats the problem. It’s the parents, that’s what the issue is. Parents dont teach their kids proper classroom etiquette and I’m not going to let the reputation that those bad students have it bring me (as well as every successful student who ever when there) down. I turned out fine, actually I’m doing better than fine. Im a student at the School of Engineering at the University of Connecticut, I got into Harvard University but it just wasn’t for me. I did well because the staff at Beach Channel including the Principal were welcoming and supportive of the student- body. I literally just finished my third semester in college and I’m already a Junior. Why? The reason for this is because I was challenged by taking a lot of AP and Honors courses that were offered at Beach Channel. Now I hear that due to the cuts, those aren’t being offered anymore. It’s the DoE’s own fault by putting all the “bad” kids into Beach Channel and putting them into other schools that they think are “better”; which was all due to a lot of cuts in funding. No, every school is the same, at least in New York State it is. It’s all about the students commitments and the household they come from that teaches them what it is exactly they have to do. So don’t blame the Beach Channel staff, blame the DoE, and the parents of the kids that don’t know how to raise their children, and those children who don’t appreciate one of the greatest gifts our Creator bestowed upon us. Knowledge. Thank you.

By: QueensParent

QueensParent — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:59:21 +0000

I don’t give Beach Channel much of a chance of staying open. Jamaica has a better chance of staying open than these schools. Both the peninsula high schools are just horrible! Terrible! These schools have wasted a tremendous amount of the public’s resources educating kids in exactly nothing. Neither of these schools deserve to remain open. I don’t understand the double-speak of ‘closing’ though. Of course Rockaway and now Beach Channel are being phased out (don’t take my word read the proposal online) but new high school seats to serve students on the peninsula will be placed in those buildings. The buildings are not shutting down. I think this whole “the school is closing” crap is just a ploy by folks who don’t actually want to read the written proposals that have been put out for review. I note that the main speakers at the two events I’ve attended so far, NORM, have NOT been students, but UFT hacks and of course, teachers, who are worries about the bread and gravy. Nothing ever changes.

By: Born In Brooklyn

Born In Brooklyn — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:24:54 +0000

Does anyone at the DOE give a damn about kids who have to work, who will now, because of the need to travel to schools nearly an hour away end up having to choose between work and school???

For a system that is so focused on increasing graduation rates, justifiably, well, this is a perverse position that can only be attributed to having no knowledge of what it is like to live on the Rockaway Pennisula. Otherwise, they could NEVER close the only two high schools in the Rockaways.

And, it continues to amaze me how the DOE ignores the Quality Review in its decision making process on school closure. This began with the closing of Tilden. The QR rating ends up proficient, but somehow that is ignored.

What a travesty.

In the end, the DOE wants the scalps of these schools, so they can trumpet among their many successes the closing of 20 more schools.

By: I noticed that...

I noticed that... — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:12:55 +0000

My sincerest apology. I meant to type “to close BCHS”.

Listen you can’t fault me. Since the mayor-4-life and his partner in deformation of education, Kleinberg, are closing so many schools, I can’t keep track. I’ve gotten to believe that the DoE created this controlled chaos of closures so that the various communities will get lost in the frustration. I guess Tweed wants to tire the community to the point of giving up.

By: I noticed that...

I noticed that... — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:04:50 +0000

It brings joy to heart when I see students involved in these issues of social injustice.

Kudos to Chris and to all his teachers. They have prepared Chris to articulate the travesty of the DoE’s decision to close JHS.

Out of the mouth of babes! Listen to them.

By: norm

norm — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:46:19 +0000

Great report. I have complete video of Chris’ speech and will be putting it up on my blog tomorrow. Chris called to say he is going to try to make it to Jamaica HS tonight to support them in their battle. Maybe Chris should be the chancellor.