Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Tech Won’t Compensate for Cuts to Teaching Force

April 05, 2011 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

Regarding “N.Y.C. Innovation Zone Tests Personalization,” (March 17, 2011): We assume that technology will make our students smart or intelligent. We all agree that wearing uniforms will not make our students smarter, yet we assume that the uniform distribution of computers in a school will do the trick. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, the average difference in public vs. private school mean test scores ranged from public schools scoring lower by almost 8 points in math to 18 points in reading. Our public school students will never be able to compete with the wealthier, healthier, and happier students in society. Students in many private schools are socialized emotionally, mentally, and academically, and deliberately trained for success.

Our public schools continue to be one failing experiment after another. At many schools, where 95 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, teachers are thankful for tools to help address diverse classroom needs. In early February, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo unveiled a budget proposal that included a $580 million cut in state aid to New York City schools. New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has threatened to eliminate more than 6,000 teaching positions, or one out of every 12 regular education teachers in the city, through layoffs and attrition. The answer to these statistics is a lifeless computer program.

Analysis of the most recent data from the new New York state school report cards does not give me any confidence that iZone schools are doing well.

Katie Taylor

New York, N.Y.

Related Tags:
Opinion

A version of this article appeared in the April 06, 2011 edition of Education Week as Tech Won’t Compensate for Cuts to Teaching Force

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Quiz News Quiz: Feb. 6, 2025: Reading Scores | Curriculum | Trump 'Indoctrination' Order | and More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
Image of books on a shelf.
Illustration by Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read