I was watching Governor Andrew Cuomo's press conference earlier today and something he said really raised red flags. Cuomo is ready to as City and State says, "Redefine Education."
Cuomo’s chance to redefine public education
One way or another, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is going to leave his mark on the state education system. His effort to shake up decades’ worth of funding practices did not happen in the recently completed state budget process, but the coronavirus pandemic has placed the future of public school funding firmly in his hands.
Governors across the country want $500 billion in direct aid from the federal government, and Cuomo and state lawmakers are hoping that such an aid package would mean billions for New York that would help stave off huge cuts to public education. “Whatever we get from the federal government will determine our state budget,” Cuomo said Monday morning, adding that there could be 20% cuts to schools, local governments and hospitals unless federal aid comes through, adding, “I’m worried.”
I am worried too Governor.
Cuomo has repeatedly pressed U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey to get it done, but it remains to be seen whether Congress will approve billions in unrestricted aid for New York. If such aid does not materialize in the coming weeks, then the likely cuts to education could run so deep that public schools would be deeply changed for years to come.
A little deeper in:
Cuomo has clashed with teachers unions before, and additional federal aid could prove critical to avoiding additional clashes in the upcoming months. “Direct federal aid for schools is critical, but so too is the state seeking new revenues through taxes on the ultrawealthy to help fund essential public services like education,” said Andrew Pallotta, president of New York State United Teachers. “Now is the time to invest in our schools, not deny them the resources they need to provide for communities statewide.”
Local school districts could negotiate with teacher and staff unions to freeze pay, as they did a decade ago during the Great Recession, according to David Albert of the New York State School Boards Association. But school districts are already turning to their rainy day funds, and districts are already coming to terms with the idea that their funding could be reduced in the near future. “Schools are being conservative and they’re not banking on money coming in,” he said on “New York Now.”
More coverage of Cuomo's presser from the Daily Beast:
“When we look back, we can say, ‘Wow, we went through hell, but look at all the lessons we learned and look at how much better we made this place from this incident,’” Cuomo said at his latest press conference in Albany, comparing how New York City rebuilt after the attacks of 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy. “Let’s use this situation, this crisis, this time, to actually learn the lessons.”
Budget cuts are one thing; redefining education is something else. I'm not at all optimistic about Cuomo's rebuild. What will his new New York look like?
For those who want to see Cuomo's possible vision of the future of education, I refer you to one of our posts from the Bloomberg era on Isaac Asimov's brilliant 1951 short story on schools in the 22nd Century. It appears it isn't going to take until 2155 for Asimov's disturbing science fiction future of education to become a reality. It has arrived in 2020 and it may continue if this remote learning "succeeds".
Here is an excerpt:
Margie went into her schoolroom. It was right next door to her bedroom, and the mechanical teacher was on and waiting for her. It was always on at the same time every day except for Saturday and Sunday, because her mother said little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours.
The screen was lit up and it said: Today's arithmetic lesson is on the addition of proper fractions.
Please insert yesterday's homework in the proper slot.
Margie did so with a sigh. She was thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather's grandfather was a boy. All the kids from the whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day...
And the teachers were people.
Stunningly, Cuomo (unwittingly?) cites the Rahm Emmanuel's "never lest a good crisis go to waste" belief as justification for his "reimagining" future U.S. society. But I think most leftists should be happy--Cuomo is a staunch Democrat or democratic-socialist or whatever these people call themselves now.
ReplyDeleteHe will try his best to build more "equity" into our society by redistributing wealth, by continuing release criminals, who are society's real victims, and a host of GND ideals like the billions spent on light bulb and solar power panel factories (this time we will do it right). Like the billion $ misplaced by deblasio's wife, I see much greater role for good government in our future. Someone will pay for it, and evil 1%ers do not have enough...
As Coma et al would say: "I'm from the government and I'm here to help..."
Cuomo is a neoLiberal. Nothing about his record would hint that he is a Democratic socialist. Look at the 2% property tax cap, his refusal to fund NYC schools as the Legislature agreed to in order to settle The Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, his his refusal to hike taxes on the wealthy, his support for charter schools and so much more.
ReplyDeleteThe insanity of quarantining the entire state of New York when only what was really needed was NYC, is going to come at a tremendous price. Remember the old saying: stupid is expensive and painful
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ReplyDeleteCalling him a democratic socialist is an insult to democratic socialists.
10:45,
I live upstate and we are taking this very seriously. This disease is really dangerous-stay safe.
I would make a deal with Cuomo. If he gives me back the 8.25% interest in TDA, I would quit on the spot. I'm 39 years old. He can keep my salary and benefits. I would be glad to go.
ReplyDeleteMy principal told me many hundred laptops/ipads are shown, as per FedEx, to be delivered with students saying they never got them.
ReplyDeleteI think it is universally known that any federal aid will never reach the schools. There are millions, possibly billions, that the NYC DOE could cut and there would be no negative impact on the schools or the students.
ReplyDeleteThe students who have the support at home will do the work and unfortunately those students without the desire and the support at home will continue to doing little or no work. DeBolshevik and the overpaid & underqualified chancellor have redefined education with their scheme to pass all students. We are being held to account for our work while simultaneously being told not to hold students accountable for their work.
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ReplyDelete"Margie did so with a sigh. She was thinking about the old schools they had when her grandfather's grandfather was a boy. All the kids from the whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day."
- from The Fun They Had (1951) by Isaac Asimov
Sigh. Nostalgia, futurist Isaac Asimov should've known, is the corruption of memory.
Yes, it’s too bad that a black-swan event such as COVID-19 forced it out into the open, but remote teaching is here to stay.
Let’s ask some questions first before making bald assertions about how on-line learning limits the "deeper-learning" experience.
First, to what extent is the resistance to on-line learning a teacher problem rather than a student problem? That students navigate, with impressive agility, around digital devices can be awfully intimidating to computer-illiterate teachers.
What about the most vulnerable, such as those who without permanent addresses, which we often cite as those who never receive adequate attention? Wouldn't they benefit from on-line learning - regardless of locale?
What about the introverted and the awkward students who don't like to raise their hands in front of everybody? Wouldn't they feel more comfortable asking questions (arguably the first step of learning) privately without the pressure from ringing bells that herd them down crowded hallways to their next class?
What about students with academic potential who ultimately succumb to the distractions created by 30 others packed into a 500-foot classroom? Wouldn't they benefit from a more peaceful environment?
What about the academically ambitious students who want to accumulate credits faster than the stifling, traditionally paced offerings of their school? Wouldn't they benefit from the accelerated potential of on-line learning?
What's wrong with teacher attention, immediate feedback, the ability to write and produce with current technology and, talk about your differentiation, self-paced learning?
In other words, Charlotte Danielson, eat your heart out.
Parents will soon find out that remote teaching is a valid alternative to bricks-and-mortar education. They didn't know before because they were artificially barred from its benefits. A rough analogy would be Steve Jobs, who first had to make sure people were aware of Apple before they could understand its appeal.
Lastly, don't worry about the Margies of the world. The highly touted benefit of face-to-face social interaction isn't exclusive to bricks-and-mortar education. As we have learned from home-schoolers, that other bugbear of public schooling, there is an endless variety of leagues and associations outside of the classroom. In other words, home-schoolers take dance lessons too.
No, bricks-and-mortar education won't go away. But that 20th century model will now have to compete with the realities of our current 21st century.
@10:29 am: Shouldn't you be focused on teaching your students? If they don't pass, then they fail right? Some parents probably have to work. If you're being "told" not to hold students accountable, you get upset with the students, with the your employer or with yourself? Teach. We have one job to do:TEACH.
ReplyDeleteThe computer ain't socializing anyone. That is a big part of school.
ReplyDeleteTeachers who passed EVERYBODY because it was in their best interest (i.e. admin off their back) can thank themselves for adding to this mess. Integrity. Ethics. Backbone. Now the monster is out. Socialization? They will figure out how to get that done. In June, when attendance is relatively high and all students have passed (thanks teachers) the new era in education will take hold. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteYou can't socialize kids at home up to age 18. Give me a break.
ReplyDeletePhysical socialization difficult
DeleteVirtual socialization (not ideal) but im sure there are a few social media tools that can be used. The DOE will find a way.
No Waiting, we provide a huge childcare service that will continue as soon as they can get it going again. The parents want schools open more than anyone. Most are seeing the value of teachers more than ever now that their kids are home.
ReplyDeleteLet's see. That would be nice.
DeleteParents don't want their kids home. That is why virtual school ain't growing beyond the pandemic.
ReplyDeleteRepeat for Waiting and 11:08, Parents don't want their kids home with them 24-7. That has been shown here with distance learning. The parents want school to open more than anyone except for maybe the kids who want to see their friends.
ReplyDeleteYes 4:14pm...i understand the point. My point is that it's possible that a new configuration in education may emerge as a result of the Covid 19 virus. We all know that the DOE sometimes listen to parents and sometimes do not listen to parents. Money is the loudest voice at the table.IMO
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