Comments on: Punishing the Heroes: Bushwick Community High School http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:46:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: MikeS http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65421 MikeS Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:12:36 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65421 Whoops, realized I meant, "They all work overaged and undercredited students". Whoops, realized I meant, “They all work overaged and undercredited students”.

]]> By: MikeS http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65420 MikeS Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:39:55 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65420 It is very difficult to work in a transfer high school due to the different types of accountability that are involved. Having worked in one, I understand the stress involved in terms of making it work, dealing with a population that most do not want to work with, and do educationally sound things. Having stated that I also find it fascinating that out of the 25-30 transfer high schools in the city, BCHS is the only one that ended up on the SURR list. They all work with the same population, underaged and overcredited students. I am willing to guess that the BCHS staff will state that they work with a population that no one else will work with affecting their statistics but that is simply not true. The accountability factors are there between the state, city, and federal government and are not going to change. It seems like the real issue is that the BCHS administration needs to be more aware of those factors and take the steps involved of doing what they have to do to survive. Bushwick sorely needs this school as there is no other choice (as of yet)in the community. It is very difficult to work in a transfer high school due to the different types of accountability that are involved. Having worked in one, I understand the stress involved in terms of making it work, dealing with a population that most do not want to work with, and do educationally sound things.

Having stated that I also find it fascinating that out of the 25-30 transfer high schools in the city, BCHS is the only one that ended up on the SURR list. They all work with the same population, underaged and overcredited students. I am willing to guess that the BCHS staff will state that they work with a population that no one else will work with affecting their statistics but that is simply not true.

The accountability factors are there between the state, city, and federal government and are not going to change. It seems like the real issue is that the BCHS administration needs to be more aware of those factors and take the steps involved of doing what they have to do to survive. Bushwick sorely needs this school as there is no other choice (as of yet)in the community.

]]> By: ryvka http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65416 ryvka Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:37:31 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65416 This year I have had the humbling experience of working with a group of BCHS students twice a week, and would not be exaggerating to describe it as the finest and most unique educational institution I have ever been a part of. I have been teaching for almost 10 years, in a wide variety of schools, some of them ranking highest in their areas, and can say with full confidence that the depth of learning that I have witnessed at BCHS is unprecedented. Never before have I seen such a strong and committed team of administrators, faculty, and students. It would be nothing short of criminal to shut down this amazing site of learning. This year I have had the humbling experience of working with a group of BCHS students twice a week, and would not be exaggerating to describe it as the finest and most unique educational institution I have ever been a part of. I have been teaching for almost 10 years, in a wide variety of schools, some of them ranking highest in their areas, and can say with full confidence that the depth of learning that I have witnessed at BCHS is unprecedented. Never before have I seen such a strong and committed team of administrators, faculty, and students. It would be nothing short of criminal to shut down this amazing site of learning.

]]> By: orawise http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65415 orawise Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:36:51 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65415 This is my second year co-teaching an after-school program for credit at BCHS (which in and of itself is a unique opportunity the school provides its students with). I have never seen a school as safe, healthy, and intellectually stimulating as BCHS. The other day I asked a student if BCHS was different than his last school and he answered, "I learn more here". New York City needs BCHS. This is my second year co-teaching an after-school program for credit at BCHS (which in and of itself is a unique opportunity the school provides its students with). I have never seen a school as safe, healthy, and intellectually stimulating as BCHS. The other day I asked a student if BCHS was different than his last school and he answered, “I learn more here”. New York City needs BCHS.

]]> By: brian http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65404 brian Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:49:01 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65404 I have had the distinct plessure of co-teaching an arts class at BCHS this semester. I have been a teaching artist in high schools and middle schools throughout the city and I can honestly say that BCHS is the most positive learning environment I have ever taught in. The level of student engagement is often profound and the commitment of the faculty and administration is inspiring. When friends and family criticize the public schools, I often point to BCHS as a beacon of hope- a model of what public education could be. I have had the distinct plessure of co-teaching an arts class at BCHS this semester. I have been a teaching artist in high schools and middle schools throughout the city and I can honestly say that BCHS is the most positive learning environment I have ever taught in. The level of student engagement is often profound and the commitment of the faculty and administration is inspiring. When friends and family criticize the public schools, I often point to BCHS as a beacon of hope- a model of what public education could be.

]]> By: rania http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65403 rania Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:08:34 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65403 I've had the opportunity to work with a group of students at BCHS last year and found the experience very energizing for an educator. The students, the teachers, and the principal have created a very positive environment that actively works toward a system of education that not only engages but adapts to the society we live in. I fully support the school. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a group of students at BCHS last year and found the experience very energizing for an educator. The students, the teachers, and the principal have created a very positive environment that actively works toward a system of education that not only engages but adapts to the society we live in. I fully support the school.

]]> By: Steve http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65399 Steve Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:13:36 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65399 I'm a long-time early childhood educator in New York City's public schools. During my 2004/2005 sabbatical, I had the distinct pleasure to spend time in BCHS classrooms, and with BCHS teachers. The school is amazing. In a school system that too often treats youth as either products or problems, BCHS is a community in which young people who have been failed by the system have a place to determine their own futures. I’m a long-time early childhood educator in New York City’s public schools. During my 2004/2005 sabbatical, I had the distinct pleasure to spend time in BCHS classrooms, and with BCHS teachers. The school is amazing. In a school system that too often treats youth as either products or problems, BCHS is a community in which young people who have been failed by the system have a place to determine their own futures.

]]> By: tharvey2 http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65376 tharvey2 Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:14:18 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65376 This is my first year at BCHS and I have to say, this school is the real deal. There is no one that I know of in the city that operate the way we do. We care in word and deed. We educate the students' socially, politically and academically. As a parent, I would send my child here. We are educating one student at a time. If we educate one, then we have educated their legacy thus creating a better society. This is my first year at BCHS and I have to say, this school is the real deal. There is no one that I know of in the city that operate the way we do. We care in word and deed. We educate the students’ socially, politically and academically. As a parent, I would send my child here. We are educating one student at a time. If we educate one, then we have educated their legacy thus creating a better society.

]]> By: TRandall http://www.edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school/comment-page-1#comment-65363 TRandall Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:11:01 +0000 http://edwize.org/punishing-the-heroes-bushwick-community-high-school#comment-65363 As the Principal of Bushwick Community High School I appreciate the wonderful things said about our school and the fact that at least someone out there understands what a Transfer School does! Thank you, Tira Randall Principal As the Principal of Bushwick Community High School I appreciate the wonderful things said about our school and the fact that at least someone out there understands what a Transfer School does!

Thank you,
Tira Randall
Principal

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