It looks like kids are going to have to go back to memorizing those nasty multiplication tables. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has reconsidered the cutesy ways of teaching math notably employed by, among other systems, New York City.
But don't expect to hear much about it from the Bloomberg administration. In order to minimize the possibility of anyone finding out just what the heck it is they do over there at Tweed, they've instructed everyone associated with schools to shut the hell up unless they're cleared by the external communications team.
It's very important that they maintain absolute secrecy. Otherwise, New Yorkers might find out what they're doing, and worse, what they're not doing. Who knows what that might lead to?The memo lists 28 examples of groups or individuals whose invitations should be discussed with the communications team.
These include unions, parent organizations, elected education councils, community groups convened to discuss specific issues - such as class size or new schools - and "groups of business and thought leaders."
Carmine Santa Maria, a member of the Community Education Council in Brooklyn's District 21, whose group invites DOE officials to nearly every meeting, said the new move is suspicious.
"It shows they're afraid of something," Santa Maria said. "What's the point of having [speakers] if they can't say anything?"
Goshdarn inquisitive citizens. Everything was fine till they came along.
But they're not wise to Tweed yet, or they'd be storming my 250%-capacity building with torches and pitchforks.
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