[poweroften] Who's Busing Who?

Power of Ten Update

The NYS Comptroller has released a report that finds that East Ramapo has been paying yeshivas to bus students without documentation that they attend school or even exist.

The comptroller only requested 300 records, a small portion of the thousands of records the district is required to keep to justify the millions of dollars paid to yeshivas. 93 of the 300 records were completely missing and 65 were deficient. Also, "all nonpublic transportation applications for the school years prior to 2017-18 had been destroyed." The comptroller also found that the number of students that yeshiva private contractors had billed for was higher than the total number of students registered at the yeshivas! The difference was several hundred thousand dollars.

Read the Comptroller's Report Here

The news about failure to oversee spending on busing for yeshiva private contractors must be read in contrast to the draconian measures taken with public school students.

This year, cost-cutting measures were taken (for public school students only) that maximized the number of children on a bus. The result is that many have longer rides, must search for a seat on a full bus, can't sit with a friend, and are even told that heavy kids must find a thin partner for a seat. The consultant hired by the district seems to be good at the geometry of putting children and bus runs together like a game of Tetris, but has no idea of the way human beings behave socially, or that children may have feelings. Additionally, the district has sold all it's buses and laid off all the drivers.

At the same time the district was cutting the transportation budget for public school children, it was paying yeshiva private contractors to "transport students who may not have been eligible or existent."

In the five years since the Greenberg report, East Ramapo has received tens of millions of dollars of additional state aid. This money has funded Kindergarten, Arts, etc. But the key finding of the report was that the school board favors yeshivas' needs over public school students' needs. This has clearly not been addressed, nor is it likely to be addressed without further state action.

The following is a list of payments made to yeshiva private transportation contractors for the 2018-19 school year:

• YESHIVATH VIZNITZ $2,284,735.35
• UNITED TALMUDICAL ACADEMY $1,602,478.07
• CONGREGATION YESHIVA AVIR YAKOV $1,275,266.73
• BNOS ESTHER PAPA $959,566.17
• CONGREGATION BETH ROCHEL $954,761.75
• BOBOV OF MONSEY $635,238.45
• CONGREGATION BAIS MALKA $574,590.24
• CENTRAL UTA OF MONSEY $501,833.54
• YESHIVA BETH DAVID $500,382.37
• BNOS DERECH YISROEL OF MONSEY $412,980.68
• BAIS TRANY OF MONSEY $406,087.00
• CONGREGATION MACHZIKEI HADAS OF BELZ $367,433.28
• CONG NOIAM MGODIM $319,302.15
• YESHIVA SANZ-KLAUSENBERG $313,039.86
• CONGREGATION TORAS EMA $226,969.60
• CONG. BAIS CHINUCH ATERES BNOS INC. $220,793.16
• BNEI YAKOV YOSEF OF MONSEY $202,846.20
• TALMUD TORAH ADAS YEREIM $181,550.88
• OHR YOCHANAN $162,625.20
• BOBOVER YESHIVA OF MONSEY $162,391.83
• CONGREGATION BAIS CHANA MALKA $137,951.44
• CONGREGATION YESHOUS MOSHE VIZNITZ $120,422.36
• TALMUD TORAH DARKEI AVOS-MONSEY $112,876.75
• BETH ROCHEL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS $92,444.50
• MOSDOS SANZ OF MONSEY $91,851.36
• CONG TALMUD TORAH D'CHASIDEI $71,484.15
• CONGREGATION BETH DAVID $56,699.08
• BNOS CHANA VIEN $30,943.00
• BNOS ZION OF BOBOV MONSEY $28,842.00
• MOSDOS SANZ KLAUSENBERG OF MONSEY INC $27,645.80
• CONGREGATION KOIFER NEFESH $25,707.06
• CONGEGATION VIEN OF MONSEY $2,347.40

Many of the children transported by the yeshiva private contractors live very close to the schools they attend. For instance, Yeshiva Avir Yakov serves mostly children who reside in the village of New Square, a village only 0.4 sq. mile in area. NY State does not reimburse for "courtesy busing" trips less than 1.5 mile. Additionally, the district allows separate buses for boys and girls.

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[poweroften] Righteous Incivility

Power of Ten Update
Announcing a New Format: Starting with this edition, Power of Ten will attempt to present just one article per issue, rather than the usual two or three.

Righteous Incivility

In the August 28, 2018 issue of The Power of Ten, I wrote that "accusations of 'anti-Semite' or 'bloc-puppet' have become part of the political dialogue", and encouraged people to avoid over-simplifications and focus on quality education for all children. Please read it again. (It's the third article in the issue)

Unfortunately there is still a lot of overheated rhetoric. Was I wrong to call for more civility? Has decorum become an impediment to justice?

Better minds than mine have addressed this question.

Read: https://aeon.co/essays/whats-the-difference-between-being-righteous-and-being-rude

As we each continue on our own path of lifelong education, we need to remember that education is transformative. You will grow, and those that you share what you have learned with will grow too. Education is revolutionary, but it does not conquer. Ignorance can be lost, but it's never defeated.

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[poweroften] CALL TO ACTION: Monday October 28, 2019

Power of Ten Update
In This Issue:
1. Rockland Clergy for Social Justice CALL TO ACTION
2. Remembering Judith Johnson

1) Rockland Clergy for Social Justice CALL TO ACTION

Rockland Clergy for Social Justice CALL TO ACTION
Rockland Community College, Technical Center Ellipse
October 28, 2019, 6:30 p.m.

RC4SJ will host a meeting of legislators, community leaders, clergy and congregants to assess challenges faced by East Ramapo's public-school children five years after Hank Greenberg's study of the District.

In 2015, the New York State Senate rejected Mr. Greenberg's core recommendation for a state appointed monitor with authority to override unreasonable decisions made by the East Ramapo board and administration (veto power).

This past June, the Senate and Assembly passed legislation for state-appointed monitors to be appointed to the Hempstead, LI school district. In contrast to the Senate's 2015 rejection of Mr. Greenberg's recommendation for East Ramapo, Hempstead monitors will be granted authority to override unreasonable decisions made by the Hempstead school board and administration (veto power). East Ramapo deserves no less.

The October 28th meeting will take place at Rockland Community College (RCC) Technical Center, Ellipse, (6:30 p.m.) We hope to develop an action plan supporting legislation similar to Hempstead's; and to advocate for a state-appointed task force/commission to develop a model of governance for East Ramapo, and similar districts, reflecting Mr. Greenberg's plea for governance reform.

We ask each of you to invite 5-10 persons interested in promoting social justice and access to educational opportunities for marginalized children.

Speakers:
Rockland Community College President Michael Baston; Olivia Castor, Spring Valley H. S. graduate, Harvard Law School student; Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee; Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski; Senator David Carlucci; Senator James Skoufis; SV NAACP President Willie Trotman; Latinx community, Luis Nivelo; Sheeba Mathai, Hudson Valley Legal Services, East Ramapo graduate; Power of Ten founder Steve White; former East Ramapo board member Steve Price; RC4SJ member Reverend Barbara Hoffman, United Methodist Church, New City, Gordon Wren, President Rockland CUPON, Kinsley Alexandre, Spring Valley H.S. graduate.

Attendees are invited to submit written suggestions and recommendations regarding governance reform, the evening of or before meeting to:
Oscar Cohen (oscarpcohen@gmail.com)

RC4SJ Planning Committee
Micheal Miller, Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship
Oscar Cohen, NAACP, RC4SJ
Rabbi Craig Scheff, Orangetown Jewish Center
Rabbi Paula Mack Drill, Orangetown Jewish Center
Raihan Faroqui, Jerrahi Order of America
Willie Trotman, NAACP

2) Remembering Judith Johnson

Judith Johnson, staunch advocate for justice for East Ramapo students, member of the NYS Board of Regents representing the region that includes East Ramapo, friend of this writer and tireless defender of our children, died Tuesday October 22.

She will be very much missed.

Here is a video of Regent Johnson, speaking in favor of governance reform for East Ramapo at a Strong East Ramapo rally: https://youtu.be/qSSJIuHRWCg

I am sure that what Judith would want each of us to do, is to continue the work she was doing. To speak up tirelessly and fearlessly for justice, and to advocate that every child's right to a quality education be cherished and protected.

Visitation will be Sunday, October 27 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the RCC Cultural Arts Center, 145 College Rd, Suffern.

A funeral service will be held at the same location on Monday, October 28 at 10:00 AM.

Donations to the Regent Dr. Judith A. Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund are being accepted at www.rocklandgives.org

 

 

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[poweroften] Your Story Requested

Power of Ten Update
In This Issue:
1. Your Story Requested
2. Culturally Relevant Teaching
3. Extended Reading: Righteous Incivility

1) Your Story Requested

Several readers have contacted the Power of Ten with concerns about long waits for registration and problems with busing.

You can submit your story to Power of Ten, and it will be used to create a report. No personal information will be shared without your permission.

Do you have a story?

Submit your story here: https://poweroften.us/report-your-issue/

YouTube video of transportation discussion at the last school board meeting: https://youtu.be/xHswEkhSKM8

2) Culturally Relevant Teaching

East Ramapo has a state mandated plan which states that instructional practices will be culturally responsive. This has never been evaluated by the state monitors.

What does Culturally Responsive Education look like?

Here is a brief summary, mostly drawn from this article by Christy M. Byrd of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Culturally relevant teaching is a powerful method for increasing student achievement and engagement that draws on student's home lives, communities, and cultural funds of knowledge. Unfortunately, culturally relevant teaching is often simplified and relegated to little more than occasional group work or celebrating different cultures in ways that disregard individual interests and stereotype students.

Culturally Relevant Teaching means:

• • Teachers have high expectations.
  • Teachers promote cultural competence
  • Teachers promote critical consciousness

Cultural Competence means:

• • Teachers develop cultural competence by understanding their students' communities and home lives.
  • Teachers encourage students' understanding of their own and others' cultures by including content from students' homes and communities and by representing people of many backgrounds in materials.
  • Teachers use students' previous experiences and knowledge gained from their families and communities as assets in the classroom.
  • Teachers create bridges from students' knowledge to the classroom content
  • Teachers also create bridges by bringing the outside world into the classroom and sending students into the community for service learning.

Critical Consciousness means:

• • Teachers raise students' critical consciousness by addressing issues of social justice and racial inequality in the classroom.
  • Teachers encourage students to identify problems in their communities and to seek ways to address them.
  • Teachers acknowledge societal oppression and encourage students to notice how those dynamics are evident in their everyday lives.
  • Teachers also empower students in the classroom and give students opportunities to participate in decision making.

Does East Ramapo have a Culturally Relevant instructional practice? Is NYSED holding the district accountable to its stated plan?

3) Extended Reading: Righteous Incivility

This issue's extended reading can be viewed as a first installment of the follow up to my essay on tolerance.

Here it is: https://aeon.co/essays/whats-the-difference-between-being-righteous-and-being-rude

Enjoy!

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[poweroften] Last Chance!

Power of Ten Update
Special Edition: Last Chance to Comment!

The comment period for the educational equivalency regulations ends Sept 2.

It literally takes only seconds to submit a comment at www.yaffed.org

Don't miss this chance to make your voice heard!

Assembly Members Jaffee and Zebrowski, Senator Carlucci , and County Executive Ed Day ALL support the regulations!

Rockland County Times: Complete Press Conference

Also: Respected Educator Alan Singer has added his voice to the call for better regulations: NYS Religious Schools Must Be Made to Obey the Law

Even More: Respected Author and former teacher at Yeshiva Avir Yakov, Shulem Deen has written an amazing open letter on this topic: OPEN LETTER TO NYS BOARD OF REGENTS REGARDING HASIDIC EDUCATION

Please don't let Sept 3 come along without doing your part to help EVERY child get the education that is their human right!

Submit your comment today at www.yaffed.org

 

 

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[poweroften] Special Edition: Urgent Action Required! September 2 Deadline!

Power of Ten Update
Special Edition: Urgent Action Required! September 2 Deadline!

• You are a Power of Ten reader - that means you understand the value of education.
• You are a Power of Ten reader - that means you believe education is a human right for every child.
• You are a Power of Ten reader - that means you understand that indifference is not an option.

That's why I am calling on you today to make your voice heard, to express your opinion about the absolute necessity of universal education to the New York State Education Department.

The Education Department is asking for comments on proposed regulations to make sure every private school provides instruction in English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. You may be surprised to hear that this is even necessary, but in fact there are many children who are not being offered even the basics. It's illegal in New York, but without regulations, the law is being ignored.

So, Power of Ten readers, its up to us to make our voices heard!

Everything you need to know to take action is only a click away: https://www.yaffed.org/eduregulations

You can just click to add a generic comment, or you can tailor your comments based on your own experience.

If you have a moment and want to read my comment, here it is: https://poweroften.us/steves-comments/

You may have some personal experience that will make your comment unique and persuasive. But don't the the perfect be the enemy of the good! You can submit a generic comment in one click, and then submit your own more detailed comment later.

But, in any case, remember the deadline is September 2!

It is extremely important that everyone participates in this action!

https://www.yaffed.org/eduregulations

 

 

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[poweroften] Education is a Human Right!

Power of Ten Update
In This Issue:
1. Education is a Human Right!
2. Let the Good Times Roll on July 28th!
3. Extended Reading

1) Education is a Human Right!

The Abidjan Principles describe the human rights obligations of States to provide public education and to regulate private involvement in education. 

They include BOTH the obligation of states to "provide free, public education of the highest attainable quality", AND to "take all effective measures, including particularly the adoption and enforcement of effective regulatory measures, to ensure the realisation of the right to education where private actors are involved in the provision of education."

These rights are already promised in the NY State Constitution and laws. But there is a huge gap in the regulatory system to make these promises a reality for children in New York.

Right now, the NY State Education Department is asking for comments on their proposed regulations to ensure the rights of children.

YOU can find more info and join the call for better regulations at: https://www.yaffed.org/eduregulations

2) Let the Good Times Roll on July 28th!

Summer, Sand & Soul is two parties in one!

Outside, it's a relaxed summer vibe on the deck of Pier 701 - featuring the largest waterfront deck in the region - with its own private beach.

Inside, we're bringing Cee Songbird and the Sound Travelers, playing soul, funk, and R&B classics, alternating sets with DJ's Tee Groove and Easy Mike spinning your favorite jams.

Tickets will include entertainment, a welcome drink, and full buffet of summer favorites (taco bar, blackened fish, salads, a strawberry shortcake bar, beverages and more)! All proceeds will go directly to support the Martin Luther King Center's After School and Summer Programs

Get Your Tickets Today!

3) Extended Reading

Many Power of Ten Readers expressed interest in more extended reading articles.

In this issue, I refer you to the newsletter of The Janusz Korczak Association of the USA.

I hope you enjoy it!

 

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