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The eight specialized high schools enroll 15,540 students; Half are low-income, while 62% are Asian, 24% are white, 6% are Latino, and 4% are black, according to city data.
Mr. de Blasio proposed was replacing the test, called the SHSAT, with a new method that would admit students based on their class rank at their middle school and their scores on statewide standardized tests. That change would require approval from the State Legislature, which has shown little appetite for such a move. A bill outlining those changes was introduced in the Assembly on Friday.
Some parents voiced their support for the changes. Harriet Hines, a Brooklyn mother of three, applauded ending the test, which she said was unfair to children who didn’t get test preparation or summer enrichment programs..
As Someone who graduated from a NYC Specialized High School
I busted my ass studying and attending all free tutor sessions etc ,
Single parent home ,low income etc
I traveled every day back and forth from Brooklyn to Manhattan
because i wanted it so bad .
Had to keep my grades up very few absences
did every extra credit opportunity that presented it self .
I think some children today are just lazy !
I feel the true solution would be to offer more widespread free test prep and summer enrichment programs to those students
that want to apply themselves .
I would have never wanted to attend my school because i came from a low income family !
How will these children hold up in class ?
The students are highly motivated and very invested in there education .
The eight specialized high schools enroll 15,540 students; Half are low-income, while 62% are Asian, 24% are white, 6% are Latino, and 4% are black, according to city data.
Mr. de Blasio proposed was replacing the test, called the SHSAT, with a new method that would admit students based on their class rank at their middle school and their scores on statewide standardized tests. That change would require approval from the State Legislature, which has shown little appetite for such a move. A bill outlining those changes was introduced in the Assembly on Friday.
Some parents voiced their support for the changes. Harriet Hines, a Brooklyn mother of three, applauded ending the test, which she said was unfair to children who didn’t get test preparation or summer enrichment programs..
You are all kinds of late on this; there is already a thread on subject with a very active discussion.
The problems that I have with the efforts to revamp the entrance process is that it is discriminatory against Asian American students and that it puts greater importance on these schools than they deserve. Yes, the specialized high schools are fine schools, indeed, but they are not the end all be all of high schools in the NYC DOE. Far from it.
And can't kids have worth beyond being test taking machines?
That's the 98% of the schools already. What's your point?
Everyone already is *special* and they don't get "test-shamed." They are free not to graduate, like 40% of kids already don't, pursue any old job, shoot hoops and ride the subways. The vast majority of NYC schooling is nothing near test-prep machines. That's your argument? That everyone should be that way?
Seriously, you and your ilk trying to keep strivers down.
I wonder if it was the other way around where Blacks & Hispanics make up the majority of the seats in these specialized high schools, would we even question the current method of admitting students to these high schools?
If SHSAT is eliminated, then it wouldn't be called "Specialized High Schools" anymore. It would just be High Schools.
Some people here like to assume Asian American students are "test taking machines", but the truth is these students who do whatever it takes to pull through. A more holistic approach, the Asian students will adopt to meet the standard. That's why Deblasio saying he is reserving 20% to black and Hispanics students is a slap in the face to Asian Americans. Because the seats aren't earned, it is given. This will lead to people who earned it, and people who were just placed in.
The specialized high schools are challenging. It isn't about taking a "test". It makes you think, and the problem stems from Black and Hispanic community not placing a lot of emphasis on education.
67% of NYC students are blacks and Hispanics. But only 15% shows up for the SHSAT test. How can you expect them to get in if they don't even bother showing up for the SHSAT?
Altering the school demographics from a COLORBLIND and MERITOCRATIC way to get in to appease "diversity" will ruin the school and smart people will have to be dumbed down. This is the American approach, to pull smart people down instead of appreciating their efforts.
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