FRHS Small Learning Communities Set By DOE
May 10, 2005
In September, Far Rockaway High School will morph into five
small “Learning Communities” in an attempt by the Department of Education (DOE)
to ameliorate some of the problems of the “failing school.”
According to sources at the DOE, each of the five learning communities will
be self-contained in what may well come to be called the “Far Rockaway Campus
School” rather than Far Rockaway High School, a name that has more than 100
years of history in the community.
According to DOE sources, the five learning communities will include:
The Health Career Institute, which will train students for careers such as
nurse, dental technician, medical laboratory assistant, home health care aide,
and radiological technician, will be run in conjunction with York College.
The Law, Leadership and Social Justice Institute will train students for legal,
law enforcement and government positions. It will run in conjunction with St.
John’s University.
The Business and Computer Technology Institute, which will run in conjunction
with Queensboro Community College, will focus on business and computer careers
and technology.
The Construction and Design Technology Institute, which will be run in
conjunction with the National Center For Construction Education and Research (NCCER)
will focus on construction and construction de-sign careers.
In addition, there will be a ninth grade intensive education component in which
students in that grade will earn up to 2 academic credits in one year, taking
double periods of both Language Arts and Mathematics.
Far
Rockaway Students Are Affected In School Reorganization
by
Elio Velez, Sports Columnist - Rockaway Wave
May 10, 2005
The name of Far Rockaway High School is synonymous with
success in sports throughout the city. There have been so many achievements that
a list of them would be a mile long but a few can be mentioned. 1) Health Career Institute which will be partnered with
York College 2) Business and Computer Tech (Queensboro C.C.) 3) Law, Leadership and
Social Justice (St. John’s) 4) Construction and Design Technology (National
Center for Construction Education and Research) and 5) A 9th Grade program.
The 9th grade is an interesting development due to the fact it will have double
periods of English and Math. It’s an admission by the Department of Education
that the middle schools have failed in their teaching; a remedial program will
be needed just so the kids can catch up in their studies.
There have been many highlights in football with the Seahorses capturing the
city championship in 1957 and 1972. In basketball, FRHS’ John Warren played for
the 1972-73 New York Knicks’ championship team and Oliver Taylor starred at
Seton Hall in the early 1990’s. Nancy Lieberman helped to revolutionize women
basketball and became the youngest person to be chosen for the Olympics in
1976.
Where sports play an important role in the school spirit, it always comes down
to academics. In recent years, Far Rockaway has struggled with low graduation
rates and also being named one of the 12 worst schools in violence in the city.
If sports are judged by wins and losses, then as a school, Far Rockaway hasn’t
won much of late. But it didn’t mean that the teachers, some who are sports
coaches as well, gave up the fight.
FRHS teams have kept battling, like being down in a basketball game and fighting their
way back to tie the score. In January, they were taken off the 12 worst schools
list. Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein praised the teachers and administrators for making it a safe environment to teach. There was a growing
morale for students and teachers and Far Rockaway was about tie the game.
But then New York State came in and called a damaging foul that ruined not
only the game but the livelihood of everyone involved. That foul was being placed on
the state closing and the reorganization of the school, which will occur on June
26. The Far Rockaway name, as of that date, will cease to exist as well as most
of the teachers’ jobs.
“The community should be aware that 50% of the staff will be let go and the rest
must reapply and interview to get their jobs back,” said one Far Rockaway
teacher who asked to remain anonymous.
“We don’t know what could happen.”
The UFT seemed to drop the ball by telling Far Rock’s teachers during the
spring break that they had only three days before the deadline to submit
transfers to other schools. The scramble to either transfer or try to return has
caused much dismay throughout the school. “That hustling part is a problem and
it seems to have numbed us. The new teachers
who have had that smile and energy have had it wiped off their face. They’ve
been demoralized,” the teacher said.
As the teachers await their fate, the Department of Education has gone full
speed ahead with their reorganization plan. The basis of the plan will be
dividing the school into five small learning communities, which will be added to
the Frederick Douglass Academy that is housed within Far Rockaway.
Those schools are:
The model of the plan is based on Campus Magnet High School, which changed
their name from Andrew Jackson High School in 1994. Though there has been an
improvement from the wild violent days of the school in the early 90’s, the
academic results are not as good as the Department of Ed has wanted.
In sports, the school will combine all schools into one program. But with
different administrations and rules, can the coaches attract enough students
and keep tabs on their academic standing?
In the present time, spring sports such as the girls’ soccer, softball and
baseball teams are battling to get into the playoffs. But by this time next
year, there may be a big hole in the athletic program.
“The kids get hurt by this”, said another teacher who wished to remain
anonymous. “The sports program in particular could be in trouble if the kids
don’t know what will happen to them in the fall. I do want to stay.”
Some of the teachers I’ve talked to have kept a positive attitude and believe
they will return in the fall. There are others who graduated as students from
Far Rockaway and returned to teach in their alma mater that may be kicked to the
curb.
In the end though, the students always seem to get hurt in the process. There
has been no word if the bilingual program, which has seen an influx of immigrant
students in recent years, will exist. What will happen to the sports programs
if there are no teachers? Where will the kids wind up?
Those are only a few questions that need to be answered and fast. Though it’s
certain that the Department of Education will push the reorganization through,
it doesn’t mean that they can’t be questioned by the community and especially
parents. Almuni need to step up also and find out what’s going on.
Rockaway needs to step up or the kids will lose the game.
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