#Letters to the Editor — May 12, 2021

The Issue: Karol Markowicz’s column on the drive toward “equity,” not excellence, in public schools.

Karol Markowicz’s column on eliminating Gifted & Talented courses highlighted the absurd thinking among school administrators (“Class Warfare,” PostOpinion, May 11).

Administrators are looking to create equity in math instruction.

NASA recently landed a rover on Mars named Perseverance. Could the name refer to the effort all the engineers and scientists exhibited to acquire the knowledge enabling the success of the mission?

Would their achievement have been prevented if their schools had preached equity, not excellence? I dare say so.

Andrew Zablow

Parsippany, NJ

My mother’s parents immigrated from Germany with little education. She had a saying that went as follows: “An education is one of the few things that can’t be taken from you.”

Education is no longer provided in schools. Our school systems are letting our children down and ultimately will let our country down when our children no longer are able to compete with international workforces.

I doubt very much that schools in Europe and Asia are also dumbing down their curricula.

Jim Glaab

Elmsford

After reading Markowicz’s column, I can only wonder how far this war on excellence will go.

If the city Department of Education is serious about equity and believes competition and striving for excellence are “white” qualities, why stop at academics?

For most high-school students, the inequities that really matter are not academic, but jocks vs. non-jocks, and the “in” crowd vs. the “out” crowd.

These could be dealt with by filling sports teams and cheerleading squads via lottery to ensure racial and gender equity, and avoiding “white” paradigms such as competitive tryouts and demonstrated skills.

For that matter, why should school bands be limited to kids who can play instruments?

Rick Collarini

Covington, La.

The current dumbing down of American schools in the name of equity is a significant step in assuring that China will establish global dominance.

Ed Quinlan

New Hyde Park

Much of Markowicz’s opinions about education are reasonable, especially in terms of industry, incentive and competition among students.

But these programs should be balanced in terms of genuine industry and talent, versus an initial family privilege.

Gifted & Talented programs do not belong at the primary levels (K-5) at all because those who have had the better family experiences will mostly get in.

At the high-school level, there is need for specialized classes and differing high schools.

Dana Elzenbeck

The Bronx

One point that should be emphasized is that we, as Americans, are competing on the world stage.

If we are to keep our lead among other nations, we must have an educated workforce. We cannot do this by “dumbing down” our education system to the lowest common denominator.

Setting up quota systems because “gifted programs” don’t reflect racial makeup just accelerates the drive to mediocrity.

Success in this country is based upon hard work. Maybe those who aren’t making the grade should look at those who are and find their secret. It sure beats finding all sorts of excuses for not trying.

Bill Isler, Queens

I wonder how the parents of black students enrolled in Advanced Placement classes feel about them being eliminated in some places.

The parents and students probably worked very hard and were thrilled that their bright, highly motivated, dedicated kids got the opportunity for advanced learning.

Now they are being told that people with brown skin are just too stupid for advanced learning, so it is being taken away. It sounds very racist to me — and discriminatory against Asians.

Carol Meltzer

Manhattan

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