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Four schools to shut down in NY

Academic — posted on: December 14, 2009 at 1:54 pm By: Rey C.

As part of mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to overhaul the education system, 91 Schools have been closed due to low grades in the city wide school progress reports. Most of them were due to overall underachievement, others were closed due to low graduation rates, despite otherwise acceptable performance.

Our Senior Benjamin Brinson says ” It really makes no sense to close them.” While John White the deputy schools chancellor for strategy says that “This Proposal is a reflection of our belief that in some schools there is simply not the capaccity to fulfill our promise to kids to prepare them for the future.”

A new law requires a 45 day period of public hearings before closing a school. Some say this measure only ads contention to the already emotional procedure.

For more information:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/03/nyregion/03closings.html

Obama gives nationwide first day of class speech

Academic, Awards — posted on: September 8, 2009 at 7:41 am By: admin
Message from the White House

Message from the White House

Here is an excerpt:

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do that every day. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something, and to learn something new. So find an adult you trust – a parent, grandparent or teacher; a coach or counselor – and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.
And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you – don’t ever give up on yourself. Because when you give up on yourself, you give up on your country.”

http://www.whitehouse.gov/MediaResources/PreparedSchoolRemarks/