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a thousand words

May 18, 2012

From inside Bronx Science, a picture of students hard at work

by Philissa Cramer, at 2:48 pm

When I spoke to Valerie Reidy, principal of the Bronx High School of Science, earlier this week, she said criticism about how she manages teachers and the student newspaper distracts the public from her students’ accomplishments.

“They work so hard, they study so hard. I hate to get caught up in administration-kid rivalry,” she said, adding that she doesn’t hold criticism by students against them. “The kids who push back — that’s what they’re supposed to be doing. I fully understand.”

A teacher at the school followed up on Thursday, sending a picture of 221 Bronx Science students taking Advanced Placement World History exams in a school gymnasium. The test took place on the penultimate day of a two-week spree of AP exams.

“As Principal Reidy mentioned to you, so much is written in the press that focuses only on the negative aspects of teenagers; this photograph is a testament to the seriousness of purpose with which so many of our students pursue their academic studies,” wrote Alex Thorp, an English teacher who also advises the senior class, the school’s print publications, and the yearbook staff. Thorp took the photograph that appears above.

Across the city, more students are taking and passing AP exams after a push in recent years to enroll students in college-level courses. In 2010, 14,522 high school seniors took at least one AP exam, up from 13,697 the year before. This fall, AP course participation will be among the college-readiness metrics factored into high schools’ city progress reports for the first time.

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  • old teach

    It is wonderful to see obviously talented students working at one of the few elite high schools in NYC. This picture taken from a senior advisor which is a compensatory position teaches fewer classes as works as a quasi administrator. I mention this as the teacher also supervisors the publication of the student press that has been critical of the principal. Also I cannot make out the composition of the students accurately but it looks like few if any students of color are taking this exam. In fact, the media coverage of minority enrollmant at the elite schools states that fewer minority students have attended such schools under the Bloomberg administration. This picture represents the quality of education New Yorkers wish for all students. The selective editorializing by the Bronx Science administration is an attempt to disguise the true lack of expression that exists at the school. A picture alone is not worth the value of one word of truth.

  • Lurking

    If I remember correctly, Valerie Reidy caused massive amounts of veteran teachers to leave Bronx Science. She was profiled in The New Yorker last year for driving out teachers who will not submit to her administrative manner. I hope she is willing to work better with teachers today. Anybody have info?

  • Science Alum

    Hey, “old teach” — it is quite clear from this photo that there is absolutely NO WAY to discern the races of the individuals in the picture. 

    You say this appears to include “few students of color,” but either you are running “color and race discerning software” that is so powerful you should quite teaching and start selling it to Mossad and the CIA, or you are yourself editorializing. 

    Also, for the record, I attended Bronx Science.  It is true that the numbers for Black and Latino students has been dropping since the 1980s, the fault of which rests largely on the disparity of elementary school education across different neighborhoods in NYC, not on the exam which is the sole criteria for entry into Science. 

    Also, your whole argument has a racist slant, as it assumes that Asians are not “people of color,” since they represent a majority of Science students today and include Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Chinese, Koreans, and other ethnic communities who are simply striving for their role in the American landscape.

  • old teach

    I stand corrected my point was the obvious attempt by this administration to highlight achievement which is fine, but, the same teacher and principal censor free speech when the truth hurts. I am certain as an alumni of this great school you wish only the best for the school and the students, you should be aware of the problems that this principal has brougth to Bronx Science.

  • Stunned

    If you are that curious, here are the stats from the NYS Report Card: Black or African American- 3%; Hispanic-11%; Asian- 62%; White- 26%.
    Students with Disabilities- NONE. (RSO only-3)  Limited English Proficiency Students: NONE
    The vast majority of students reside in Queens.
    There are 7 subspecies of chimpanzees who could be principal of this school and get the same student results without all the noixce.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=583992881 Justin Goldman

    The hard work of Science students does not – at all – reflect reidy or her tyrannical administration. 

    They work hard in spite of (not because of) the administration. 

    Also Alex Thorpe is as anti-reidy as any of us; his yearbook is just as censored and fake as the newspaper. His blatant fear of speaking out against Reidy proves how dire the situation is at Bronx Science

  • Unreal

    R U high? It’s a bunch of Asian kids taking an AP exam. So what?

  • Roma Giudetti

    So I’m unclear – what’s the point of this article?  What exactly is the principal responsible for in this scenario.  Are more kids taking this test than ever before?  Are more kids passing the test than ever before?  Hasn’t Bronx Science always had super high achieving kids? What exactly is the point?

  • GUest

    I’ll bet you she doesn’t have a photo waiver from every kid in that gym.

  • Dlopera14

    Why was this picture of students posted on the internet?  I am sure every child’s parent did not sign a specific waiver nor was this approved by the Bloomberg channels. That teacher who took the photo did not comply with the regulations established to protect children from predators, etc.

  • Parent of a senior

    Judging by the response below, I wish the staff at the school were as sharp as the students. How does the fact that kids are sitting for an exam prove that the student newspaper is not heavily censured? Okay, it proves that the students haven’t totally given up. I guess that can be interpreted as a vote of confidence in the administration?
    Talk about lowering the bar!

  • Former Alumni

    DIopera14 is absolutely right.   If you want to talk about the rights of students, where is the FERPA-required waiver that all of the students (above 18) or their parent(s) (below 18) signed authorizing their personhood and image to be displayed on a third-party website?   You have now exposed another Reidy-supporting teacher to 221 federal-level crimes.  Not that it would be the first time that the Bronx Science faculty and staff has skirted the law…..   and not that I am complaining about such vulnerabilities, but it should be noted that this is unlawful behavior.

  • Mr. Flerporillo

    Are you people actually serious?  I can’t make out the face of one student in this photo, which I strongly doubt runs afoul of federal privacy law.  

    More important, why are people so darn litigious?  It’s like there’s some deep need to enforce rules and bust people.

  • Scott hong

    Jacobs for president.

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