Weeks ago, Anthony Beckford slammed Brooklyn politicians for their even-handedness in navigating the East Midwood/Urban Dove controversy. He accused them of selling out Brooklyn’s disadvantaged students in favor of Jewish constituents. Mr. Beckford comes across as ignorant of the facts and a political opportunist who was rightfully rejected by voters.
Mr. Beckford writes “elected officials of the Midwood area fed on the irrational fear, anger and bias of the protesters” and that he “denounce(s) these false narratives and any bias and divisive organization that is adding fuel to the situation creating a hateful and dangerous situation for our children.” But what Mr. Beckford fails to understand is that the students and even teachers of Urban Dove share many of the same concerns about their school as the residents of Midwood do.
Each year, the New York City Department of Education conducts the NYC School Survey in which all parents, teachers, students in grades 6-12 and select support staff participate. Directly from Urban Dove students and teachers, here is what they say about their school:
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63% of students say that students get into physical fights at their school either some or most of the time
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59% of students say that there is gang activity at their school either some or most of the time
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50% of students say that students either some or most of the time harass, bully, or intimidate each other because of their race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, or citizenship/immigration status at their school
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68% of teachers say that students either some or most of the time harass, bully or intimidate other students
While Mr. Beckford may have bought Urban Dove’s propaganda, the truth is that the school has failed our at-risk youth. As Urban Dove’s filings with the NYS Education Department detail, the school allocates zero dollars towards security and instead relies on the NYPD to deal with the gang activity and other disturbances among UD students. The school reports 8% of the total out-of-school suspended students in its school district. All students need a safe environment in order to learn and thrive, and our weakest pupils need extra nurturing in order to succeed. Prominent politicians, including Attorney General Letitia James, have opposed Urban Dove due to its safety issues.
We need to do better for Brooklyn youth regardless of race or ethnicity. Urban Dove’s overall graduation rate of 12% in 2018 is unacceptable. What’s more, Urban Dove’s average regents passing scores for all Common Core subjects taught in our public schools are dismal, raising concerns as to whether Urban Dove’s teachers are even qualified to teach the Common Core curriculum students need to obtain a regents diploma. Urban Dove reports 53% inexperienced teachers, among the most of any school in the State. For a school itself marred in controversy for employing a principal dishonest about his credentials perhaps these results are no surprise. In New York City, charter schools tend to perform at or above the same level of neighborhood schools. Urban Dove is not among that group.
The $20,000 per student that Urban Dove receives in NYS tax dollars would be better spent in the elementary and middle school grades where learning disabilities can be addressed at the outset before students get disenchanted and exhibit behavioral problems. Shipping students with challenges to a failing charter school doesn’t help them succeed, it simply kicks the can down the road, potentially snowballing into a larger problem when these students enter society without a real education or vocational skills. It is time for our elected officials to have an open and honest discussion on education. Clearly, Urban Dove is not the solution.
Slandering concerned citizens as racist for challenging a failing charter school is disgraceful and only obfuscates the true problem. We must demand quality education for all our children for there is no future without our youth.
Suzie Srour is a lifelong Brooklynite and high school teacher that attended school in Midwood.
