Dear Chancellor Klein,

My name is Seth Pearce. I am a senior at LaGuardia High School and a member of the NYC Student Union ( http://nycstudents.org), a citywide, student-run and created, education advocacy organization. I am writing to you to express both my support for your new school Progress Report program and my criticism of some of its parts.

At last weeks NYC Student Union meeting, students from schools around the City discussed the Progress Reports. Some students supported them and others didn’t. There was, however, a general agreement on the need for accountability in our schools. These Progress Reports bring added accountability and transparency to our City’s schools. They help give valuable information to our City’s parents. The most important benefit of the Progress Reports might be increased involvement from these parents who now have a clearer view of what’s going on their children’s schools.

While I support the principle of the Progress Reports, I also believe that the system needs revision. A large problem with your report card is the small amount of influence the Learning Environment section has on the overall score. Attendance is also as a major indicator of school performance. Students who go to bad schools will probably go to school less often and vice versa. If students are in the habit of going to school it is more likely that they will progress academically and proceed to the next level of education. Surveys should also play a larger role because parents, students and teachers have the most direct insight into the schools output.

I would also like to say that while standardized test scores deserve a place in the Progress Report they are given too much value in this system. While they provide some insight into student performance, they are inadequate and distract from the real business of education: teaching and learning. Emphasis on these tests also devalues the roles teacher and student. Furthermore, the need for constant progress to succeed in their progress reports is unrealistic for high performing schools and can actually distract them from the great work they are doing. In my mind the importance of progress for these purposes should be taken on the sliding scale determined by a school’s previous performance, e.g. progress would more important for low performing schools.

Thank you for taking the time to hear a student’s opinion. If you ever want to read some student commentary about our school system, check out the NYC Students Blog at http://nycstudents.blogspot.com or stop by at one of our Monday meetings.

Have a nice day,

Seth Pearce
seth@nycstudents.org
http://nycstudents.org

The next meeting will be held on October 19st at 5:00 at the UFT(United Federation of Teachers) offices at 50 Broadway (between Exchange and Morris), on the 2nd Floor, in Room B. This week’s subject will be student government.
To get to 50 Broadway:
Take the A,C to Broadway-Nassau and walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the 2,3 to Wall St. walk two blocks East on Wall St. (to Broadway), turn left walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the 4,5 to Wall St. and walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the J,M,Z to Broad St. walk east on Exchange Place and turn left on Broadway
or
Take the R,W to Rector St. walk one block West to Broadway (past the Church) then walk South (with traffic) on Broadway

As always, there will be pizza and snacks. All public high school students are welcome! Email union@nycstudents.org if you need more info, want to add an agenda item or just to let us know that you are dropping by.

The next meeting will not be held this upcoming moday due to Columbus Day. The next meeting instead will be held on October 15th at 5:00 at the UFT(United Federation of Teachers) offices at 50 Broadway (between Exchange and Morris), on the 2nd Floor.
To get to 50 Broadway:
Take the A,C to Broadway-Nassau and walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the 2,3 to Wall St. walk two blocks East on Wall St. (to Broadway), turn left walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the 4,5 to Wall St. and walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the J,M,Z to Broad St. walk east on Exchange Place and turn left on Broadway
or
Take the R,W to Rector St. walk one block West to Broadway (past the Church) then walk South (with traffic) on Broadway

As always, there will be pizza and snacks. All public high school students are welcome! Email union@nycstudents.org if you need more info, want to add an agenda item or just to let us know that you are dropping by.

The next meeting will be held on October 1st at 5:00 at the UFT(United Federation of Teachers) offices at 50 Broadway (between Exchange and Morris), on the 2nd Floor, in Room B. This week’s subject will be student government.
To get to 50 Broadway:
Take the A,C to Broadway-Nassau and walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the 2,3 to Wall St. walk two blocks East on Wall St. (to Broadway), turn left walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the 4,5 to Wall St. and walk South (with traffic) on Broadway
or
Take the J,M,Z to Broad St. walk east on Exchange Place and turn left on Broadway
or
Take the R,W to Rector St. walk one block West to Broadway (past the Church) then walk South (with traffic) on Broadway

As always, there will be pizza and snacks. All public high school students are welcome! Email union@nycstudents.org if you need more info, want to add an agenda item or just to let us know that you are dropping by.