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Education Reading Academy Teaches Kids To Think Critically

Bernice Elizabeth Green
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(Vanderbilt University models program off of successful Saturday University)

By Vicky Travis, The Tennessean

For most middle-schoolers, the thought of Saturday school would earn a loud “yuck.”

But a group of 20 Nashville fifth- and sixth-graders wrapped up six weeks of it Saturday, waking up to mind-expanding ideas about books and relating them to film. These high-achieving kids already love to read, but through a program with Metro Nashville Public Schools and Vanderbilt University, they’re thinking critically and talking about books in a way they haven’t before.

The Reading Academy at Vanderbilt pairs students who tested in the top 20 percent for reading proficiency at IT Creswell Middle Arts Academy with faculty from Vanderbilt’s Programs for Talented Youth.

“After being in school all week and having activities all week, Terrance wakes up ready to go on Saturday,” says Vienitta Jobe, grandmother to Terrance Otis, 10. “He gets out telling me all he’s learned, and he’s interacting with kids who challenge him.”

The Reading Academy is one of two Vanderbilt programs that stimulates reading among middle-schoolers. They’re funded by best-selling author and Vanderbilt alumnus James Patterson.

Photo provided by The Black Star Project/Mass Black Male Graduation

 

Suit to protect kids’ privacy

A group of New York City parents filed suit Wednesday to block the state Education Department from sharing their kids’ data — including test scores and discipline records — with private companies.

Textbooks recommended by Dept. of Education…

It’s a bungled effort to boost standards.Teachers across the city are reporting problems with the new reading and writing textbooks recommended by the Department of Education. Not only were books deli…

 

Bill de Blasio faces big test in picking next schools chancellor…

Among the most critical decisions for Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio is selecting the right person to lead the school system and its 1.1 million students.

 

NYC students can’t get ‘0’grade even if they deser…

E-mails provided to the Daily News show that it has become “common practice” for New York City high schools to abandon the traditional 0 to 100 grading scale — for one that gives kids no lower than a 5…

 

NY kids’ statewide reading, math scores middling

New York state’s kids barely boosted their performance on national reading and math assessments this year, testing data published Thursday shows.

Colin Powell to give $5M to City College …

The gift will support the Colin L. Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. The school was named after Powell in April.

 

Senator Kevin Parker Introducing College Aid For Returning NYS Servicemen

Editor, Our Time Press
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On the eve of the national Veterans Day holiday observance last Monday, November 11, 2013, Senator Kevin Parker (D-21),
announced he is introducing the NY CARES Act (New York College Aid for Returning Empire State Service members).

(L – R) – U.S. Army 42nd Infantry Division, Staten Island, Sgt. Jeffrey Parker; Senator Kevin Parker; U.S. Army 42nd Infantry Division, Staten Island, Sgt. Lesly Fontaine, Jr.; Mrs. Carrie Mobley, retired U.S. Army Sgt. First Class. Directly behind Sen. Parker, black wide brim hat is Edward Daniels, Chairman, Incarcerated Veterans’ Consortium; to his right, Brett Scudder, President, NY Humanitarians & Community Advocates Network

And that was a nice drum roll to Damon Kinebrew, the treasurer for the distinguished Association of Minority Enterprises of New York, Inc.  Kinebrew is a Vietnam veteran who lives in Bedford Stuyvesant and feels Parker is somewhat of a hero.  “His has instituted some very good programs for veterans, and this one is needed!”

Parker’s bill requires New York’s public and private universities to accept military service for some college credit. Joining the five-term legislator were members of Black Veterans for Social Justice; Ed Daniels, Chair, Incarcerated Veterans’ Consortium; Donald Day, Vice Commander, Disabled American Veterans; Carrie Mobley, retired United States Army Sergeant First Class; Brett Scudder, President, NY Humanitarian & Community Advocates Network, and United States Army Sergeants Jeffrey Parker and Lesly Fontaine, Jr., of the 42nd Infantry Division, Staten Island.

“America is in the process of experiencing the largest number of returning service members since World War II, many of whom will seek to either re-establish or embark on their civilian careers. By providing an enhanced path into college, this bill recognizes their specialized training and experience, and months and years on foreign soil as equivalent to college credits,” Senator Parker said.

“I am proud to sponsor this important piece of legislation awarding college credit to veterans for the intensive, hands on training they received during their service with the United States military. This bill will afford all soldiers the opportunity to choose their future path by continuing their education in a field they most desire. Our men and women of the military deserve nothing less than our respect and support as they ease back into civilian life,” said Assemblyman Felix W. Ortiz, D-Brooklyn and Chair of the Assembly/Senate Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force and the Committee on Cities, the bill’s Assembly sponsor.

“The NY CARES Act will be an important part of helping returning veterans to restart or jump-start their careers after serving overseas,” said Mr. Job Mashariki, Founder of Black Veterans for Social Justice. “Veterans should be able to leverage their specialized skills into college credit, and this bill will make that happen.”

The post 9/11 G.I. Bill offers returning veterans education benefits including, but not limited to, up to 100% tuition and fee coverage, and the ability to transfer benefits to family members. It does not however convert specialized training and experience into college credits. Senator Parker’s NY CARES bill would take the highly technical training modern service members are given, and create a method for their knowledge, experience and course work to qualify for credit when applying to or resuming college. The bill would also create a “bridge” program and a “one-stop” website to make applying military training/experience to college credit and majors easier.

“This bill is important,” Sgt. Lesly Fontaine, who was present at Sen. Parker’s press conference,  told Our Time Press.   Sgt. Fontaine is going on his 11th year as a US Army National Guard with three years active duty.  He plans on staying.  He is a single father of two sons, ages 8 and 6.  “It’s pretty rough but my family helps me out.”

“Hopefully the Bill will pass as it makes it so much easier for veterans. It will increase the number of servicemen and women going to college by giving them credit for their skills.  And these service people are real people. People we know.

“It gives them another opportunity to either grab some rungs on the ladder of success or return to the rung they were on previously before they left to serve our country.”

“Although my colleague Assemblyman Ortiz is chairing the Somos el Futuro conference in Puerto Rico and unfortunately not able to be here, I know he joins me in believing this simple truth: We have a responsibility to give back to our troops and veterans, in the same selfless manner they have given to us to maintain our freedom,” Senator Parker concluded.

 

 

Brooklyn Boos

Eddie Castro
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By Eddie Castro

Three wins and seven losses, that is the Brooklyn Nets current record as they sit in last place in the Atlantic Division. Did anybody see this happening with their star-studded starting lineup? This is definitely not the start Jason Kidd had in mind when he was named head coach back in June. The team had high expectations after a great season last year and seemed to be a perennial threat against powerhouse teams like the Indiana Pacers and the 2-time defending champs the Miami Heat. Through 10 games, the team looks completely lost. When asked about their losing woes after a 108-98 loss at home to Portland, coach Kidd seems to be willing to take most of the heat stating, “It was just bad coaching”. “The guys are playing hard.” Nice minispeech Kidd but it isn’t going to get your team wins.

Although it may seem like bad coaching, according to Kidd, he shouldn’t take all the heat. The Nets (as a team) are dealing with injuries and showing their age as well. During their 3-game road trip, point guard Deron Williams and center Brook Lopez both sustained ankle injuries and have not played since. Those two players usually account for about seventy percent of the team’s offense. With Lopez and Williams out of the lineup, it leaves the older guys like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to pick up the slack. Pierce is still trying to capture his swagger in a Brooklyn Net uniform as he struggled (yet again) in the game versus the Trail Blazers on Monday night. Garnett looked to have been Brooklyn’s superman on Monday with his early productivity on the offensive end hitting six of his first seven shots. Then the second half came and the wrinkles and gray hairs began to show as Garnett  missed 10 of his last 12 shots. After scoring a staggering 40 points in the first quarter, the Nets could not match Portland’s energy. Brooklyn shot 9 of 41 from the field in the second half. The team has lost five of their last six games.

It is really unfair to ask for so much from Pierce (age 35) and Garnett (age 37). Both are in the NBA’s top five list for most minutes played. Fact of the matter is, this current Brooklyn team has to play better. Yes, they may be a little older in terms of their roster but Garnett and Pierce aren’t chumps. The team must get a healthy Deron Williams back and find a way to get more touches for their big man, Lopez, who can give the team 20 points and 10 rebounds in any given night.  No more talk about how they need time to learn how to play with one another. When you get a cut, you treat it before it gets infected.  A record of 3-7 can end up turning into 10-20. By then, the talk will be did Prokorov make the right decision giving up all those draft picks for two players who are approaching the end of their careers. If this is going to work and make the Nets the great team we all expect in Brooklyn, it has to work sooner rather than later.

Sports Notes: (Basketball) Both the Knicks and Nets are a combined 6-13. Definitely not something for New Yorkers to be proud of. The Nets look to get things together  in Minnesota against Kevin Love and the Timberwolves on Friday night. The Knicks, too are on the verge of a season meltdown. They just look awful without their defensive anchor Tyson Chandler. The team will try to do one better than their crossriver rival Nets as they head back home to play a tough Indiana Pacers team led by Paul George. (Football) The Jets made history this past Sunday, history in which they do not want to be included, becoming the first team in NFL history to have alternate wins and losses through the first 10 games. Quarterback Geno Smith tries to avenge an awful performance he had in Buffalo as the team visits coach Rex Ryan’s old stomping grounds in Baltimore in a matchup against the Ravens. The Giants have now won 4 straight after an 0-6 start. Yes, Giants fans, the word PLAYOFFS can now be used. However, the Giants have a tough game coming up when they welcome their division rival the Dallas Cowboys. This game could very well determine whether Eli Manning and the Giants have playoff football in their future. (Boxing) Former #1 “pound-for-pound” champion Manny Pacquiao returns to the ring trying to snap a two-fight losing streak as he prepares himself for a bout against Brandon Rios. Can the “Pac Man” find his way back to greatness after the most memorable setback of his career? Stay tuned.

Family Calendar

Editor, Our Time Press
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Saturday, November 24, 2013

4p-5:30p: Join Morgan Powell, the writer, landscape designer and founder of Bronx River Sankofa, for a tour through Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Starting location: The India Street exit of the Greenpoint Ave. station on the G train line.

Sunday,  December 8th, 2013

Free Family Event: 2pm on “Everything Is A Part Of Everything!” A timely, artistic, modern-day dramatic musical that debates the role and responsibility of the family in Global Warming and Earth Sustainability.

About the show–Four Element: Air,Water,Fire and Earth decide that human beings have done a poor job of solving our planet’s global warming.  Gathering their forces, they take the problem to two Justices of the Supreme Court at Dr. Glory’s Youth Theatre and The RIVERSIDE THEATER, 91 Claremont Ave. (bet. 120th & 122nd St),646-660-2390. This event is free of charge and open to the public to attend.  Call 212-870-6784 to RSVP.

 

Ongoing thru January 11, 2014

HOUSE of ART GALLERY: The Games We Played takes a nostalgic revisit through art to a time when childhood was experienced … and activated … by our children in the form of creative play.  Before the advent of the electronic game there was the simple joy and magic of street and board games played by young people and families. While some games occupied the entire sidewalk, other games took up the whole street. There were also classic games played indoors when households still had family game night. This exhibition will showcase a diverse group of emerging-to-established artists with a multitude of genres. Featured artists: Guy Stanley Philoche, Jamel Shabazz, Dan Ericson, Charlotta Janssen, Leroy Campbell and others.  408 Marcus Garvey Blvd.  Please call for hours: 347-663-8195. Web site: http://hoagallery.com. FREE!

 

City Councilman Demands Bed-Stuy Gets G & T And Special Education Programs

Stephen Witt
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Robert Cornegy calls DOE citing of current  programs  a civil rights issue

By Stephen Witt

Bedford-Stuyvesant City Councilman-elect Robert Cornegy said this week that he would like to meet immediately with Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio on getting Bedford-Stuyvesant both a Gifted and Talented public school program and a special education program for students with mental and physical special needs.

“It’s almost a civil rights issue where you’re saying how in Bedford-Stuyvesant, one of the last strongholds of African-American political and socioeconomic power, there is not  a Gifted and Talented program,” said Cornegy.

Cornegy’s comments came a week after Our Time Press reported that Bed-Stuy is the only school district in Brooklyn without a Gifted and Talented program for public school children in grades kindergarten to fourth grade.

Entrance to the city’s Department of Education’s (DOE) Gifted and Talented programs are based on verbal and nonverbal assessment tests given to children as young as four.

This year, there are 34 Gifted and Talented programs at schools in every Brooklyn district except District 16, which is made up mainly of Bed-Stuy.  District 20 schools, which are mainly made up of Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst, have 10 or slightly less than a third of the borough’s Gifted and Talented programs.

This includes the Brooklyn School of Inquiry, which is one of the city’s five magnet Gifted and Talented schools drawing children from across the borough and city. Seventy-five percent of the students attending this school are white and 13 percent Asian, six percent are black and six percent are Hispanic.

Department of Education (DOE) spokesperson Harry Hartfield said last week the reason Bed-Stuy didn’t have any Gifted and Talented programs were because they lacked the students that could pass the test.

“G&T programs are sited within districts based on the number of students who qualify for seats within that district. Because G&T programs are distinct programs within school buildings and occupy their own classrooms, we require a minimum number of students within a district to qualify in order to make the creation of a section practical,” said Hartfield in an e-mail. “If that can’t happen in a particular district, the DOE offers eligible applicants priority to one or more program options in neighboring districts.”

Hartfield did not return answers to several follow-up questions at press time for this story.

The fact that there are no Gifted and Talented programs in Bed-Stuy comes after reports this year about a huge racial disparity in the elite academic public high schools such as Stuyvesant High School – all of which require an entrance exam.

But Cornegy questioned the kinds of criteria in which a four-year-old is tested.

In some communities, a child that is rambunctious might be considered precocious, and in other communities these same children that are from different ethnic backgrounds are labeled ADHD and given medications to calm them down, he said.

“The idea we would evaluate children differently is an idea born out of a different America. All these methodologies are born out of an old America based on prejudice, but the new America has not adjusted the methodologies,” said Cornegy, adding when local children are deemed Gifted and Talented on the current tests they are farmed out of the community.

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