Yesterday’s New York Times had a story about the Chancellor’s idea to eliminate middle schools. Now, several things here…

1) I happen to think that middle schools are really important. Those years are different than K-5 and they are different from 9-12. I think having some K-8 schools and some 6-12 schools as experiments is fantastic. Let’s remember our size can be a strength. We can have alternative programs, we can have experiments, and in a district of over one million kids, we should realize that the more options we offer, the better.

2) At least from the article, this feels like a mandate. I worry that this chancellor makes decisions before listening to the community. This is not and should not be a hasty decision.

3) Is this what we should be focusing on? And that’s the reason for the title of this entry. This feels like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. We still have overcrowded classes, overcrowded schoools… the city is facing all sorts of issues over the new Regents tests, and we’re concerned about whether or not we have middle schools or K-8s. And worse, the Dept. of Ed is going expend a lot of energy if they try to go through with this. It’s time to address real problems, not invent ones that really don’t get to the heart of the issue.