Q&A
Debate over the implementation of parental choice in bilingual education
7:28:21
·
158 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph and Randy Mastro engage in a heated debate about the implementation of parental choice in bilingual education. They disagree on the novelty and effectiveness of Mastro's proposals.
- Mastro explains his proposal for citywide parental choice in bilingual education
- Joseph argues that such options already existed in some schools
- They dispute the extent to which parental choice was available across the city
- Discussion touches on historical challenges in implementing bilingual education programs
Randy Mastro
7:28:21
IT THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CHANCELLER, we were going to create parental choice where parents would choose whether they wanted their children to have English immersion or continue in traditional bilingual education.
7:28:37
So there would but that exists Shreddy,
Rita Joseph
7:28:39
when you do the home language survey, when you enter the school system, that option is giving to you as you register your child.
Randy Mastro
7:28:46
They wouldn't exist then.
Rita Joseph
7:28:48
So nice The home language?
7:28:50
You sure.
7:28:50
The home language survey, the hills form.
Randy Mastro
7:28:53
They were I I Council
Rita Joseph
7:28:56
member.
7:28:57
This was a class action lawsuit.
7:28:58
That's exactly how we wind up having bilingual education.
Randy Mastro
7:29:02
Council member.
Rita Joseph
7:29:02
Yes, sir.
Randy Mastro
7:29:04
You know, we did not have widespread availability and parental choice back in 2000.
7:29:12
And that was the reality.
7:29:13
Postal.
Rita Joseph
7:29:14
PS 189, who's a bilingual education school, has been around for 50 years doing exactly the work that you wanted to do.
7:29:21
Exactly.
7:29:21
I wanted
Randy Mastro
7:29:22
to do it for the entire city.
7:29:24
So if all parents that choice?
Rita Joseph
7:29:26
P s 189 has been doing that work for 50 years.
7:29:29
That's one p s.
7:29:30
One p s, then the model lives across the city.
7:29:33
And at the time, historically, you also have a shortage.
UNKNOWN
7:29:36
The white
UNKNOWN
7:29:36
cut model?
7:29:36
The white
Randy Mastro
7:29:36
cut model?
Rita Joseph
7:29:37
The model is an excellent model, still stands to be a matter factored out toilets of migrants.
7:29:41
They went to that school to copy that exact model.
7:29:44
That's across the city.
Randy Mastro
7:29:45
That's fantastic because that's what I urged the mayor and the chancellor.
Rita Joseph
7:29:49
So it's being
Randy Mastro
7:29:49
due back in 2000 citywide.
7:29:52
And, unfortunately, they couldn't get it together to provide We
Rita Joseph
7:29:55
had a shortage of 8000 teachers at the time.
7:29:58
If you remember,
Bridget Anne Kelly
7:29:58
it would have
Rita Joseph
7:29:59
been a salary for an educator at the time was $31,000.
UNKNOWN
7:30:02
And
Rita Joseph
7:30:02
you couldn't have accrued education.
7:30:04
Remember, and they have to change the licensing formula.
Randy Mastro
7:30:06
That's all.
7:30:06
I respect you.
7:30:07
I don't know why if you're saying you think that proposal was a good one, and there are examples of it in the system.
UNKNOWN
7:30:14
Why
Rita Joseph
7:30:14
It already existed?
Randy Mastro
7:30:15
Why we're having a debate.
Rita Joseph
7:30:16
It wasn't We're not having a debate.
7:30:18
I just wanted to clarify some of the stuff that it already existed.
7:30:21
You we were trying here to reinvent the wheel.
Randy Mastro
7:30:23
It didn't exist city wide.
7:30:25
It did not exist city wide, and it would have taken hiring more teachers,
Adrienne E. Adams
7:30:28
and it would have had a shortage parents.
Rita Joseph
7:30:30
We had a shortage in 2008,000 teachers.
7:30:33
And if you recall, they had to change the licensing which allowed more teachers to come and teach because there was a shortage.
7:30:39
And historically, we still have a shortage in bilingual education, ESL teachers, prior to becoming council member, that's what I was, an ESL teacher.
7:30:47
And I talked up until the very last day because there was no one to take and take my position.
Randy Mastro
7:30:51
So I appreciate you.
7:30:53
I appreciate your service.
7:30:54
I respect you.
7:30:56
I wanted to bring that program city wide.
7:30:58
It's what came out of it.
Rita Joseph
7:30:59
I'm I'm just a little curious as to why non educators was leading that fight.