Darth Vader Could Be Mayor And The Kids Wouldn’t Know The Difference
View From The Middle
By Charles Rogers

There have been a number of distressing instances recently elaborating on what our students are being taught — or not taught — in schools. One, reported a month or so ago, noted that the United State ranked 115th on something called the “Geography Olym-pics” on the Internet. It was no big , official contest, but it was a competition apparently aimed at students around the world. It hit hard with me because I’m a nut about geography, which is the essence of history and, of course, the only route to understanding international events.

That instance of lack-of-learning brings me to the next one: the disclosure last week at a City Council hearing that more than four out of five city eighth graders failed to meet state standards in the subject of social studies. The city’s Department of Education reported that 81 percent of the kids flunked last year in basic social studies exams, compared to 62 percent in the 2001-02 school year. Fifth graders had a similarly low ranking.

Eighty-one percent! That means most of the students you might want to talk with about a mayoral race or a City Council bill wouldn’t know what you’re talking about. Nice, huh? I mean, these “kids” are already teenagers; already embarking on the beginning of thoughtful life. Ask them who Darth Vader is and they’ll be able to tell you. Ask them who Commissioner Raymond Kelly is and they have no idea.

Reasons — or excuses — given for the disastrous results ranged from the students being too involved in trying to study reading and math, in order to keep up with the new standards, or that they couldn’t understand the questions.

Duh!

I can’t believe nobody ever suggested to the De-partment of Ed that perhaps reading could be taught by using social studies as a base (“See Mayor Bloom-berg run. Run, Mayor Bloomberg, catch Fernando Ferrer by the tail!”). It wouldn’t be too far a reach if you switched the names “Gotham City” or “Metro-polis” with “New York” and used Batman and Superman as principles (no, not principals, dummy. Principles!).

Now, according to the federal “No Child Left Behind” law, schools and districts are to be held accountable for test scores. If they fall short of the standards, the school is labeled as failing, and federal money could be withheld from that district until the offending school straightens out and the test scores go up. So far, according to a report in The Post last Friday, eight of the city’s 32 districts have been deemed failing under the “No Child” standards.

There’s something wrong somewhere. I covered a demonstration last week by teachers who picketed— before classes began — in front of Canarsie High School and P.S. 114. They were saying they needed raises (what else?) and lowering of hours, and… well, you know…all the usual stuff. Since they haven’t had a contract for three years, I guess they have pretty much reason to protest.

On the other hand, there is a resentment about that protesting. When you look at the kids who are obviously not learning a helluva lot and then you see the teachers picketing, it’s easy to ask yourself (and our elected officials), “What the hell are we paying these teachers for? To be babysitters?”

Now wait! I have the greatest respect for teachers and everything they do. However, I would like to see, as they would, some of the fruits of their labors from their students.

So far, it seems most of the students don’t know much beyond Darth Vader.