Q&A
Impact of Mastro's work on current education policy perspectives
7:30:59
·
3 min
Council Member Rita Joseph questions Randy Mastro about the long-term impact of his work on education policy and how principles of fairness and equity should apply in current education policies, especially in New York City's diverse environment.
- Joseph challenges Mastro on the long-term effects of his education task force work
- Mastro acknowledges the importance of fairness and equity in current education policies
- Discussion touches on the challenges of educating in a diverse city with many languages
- Mastro expresses willingness to learn and work collaboratively on education issues
Rita Joseph
7:30:59
I'm I'm just a little curious as to why non educators was leading that fight.
7:31:04
Into bringing bilingual education.
7:31:06
So my question to you again today is, how do you think your work on the task force would shape the perspective on education policy in New York today?
7:31:14
Not back then, but today because you are going to be the corporate council and these things will come for you.
Randy Mastro
7:31:19
I don't think anyone has a monopoly on good ideas.
7:31:22
Mhmm.
7:31:23
And I think that that was a good idea that was allowed at the time by the New York Times and others and universally hailed, and I am saddened that the mayor and the chancellor didn't get their act together to do that.
7:31:35
And I have since served on the CUNY board, I've served a literacy design collaborative, YMCA board at Greater New York, Children's Museum Manhattan, Jewish Children's Museum, Hale House, I have devoted a lot of time and energy pro bono community service to education and Uh-huh.
7:31:54
And educational institutions.
7:31:55
So I how do I think that shaped where we are today.
7:31:59
Mhmm.
7:31:59
Unfortunately, it didn't get adopted.
7:32:02
So I I wish it had.
7:32:04
I think you're saying it's a good idea and where it exists has had some profoundly positive effects.
7:32:10
I wish Actually,
Rita Joseph
7:32:11
they have Bloomberg reference 189 front page of the New York Times as the greatest model in the city, and that's where he would go to look at bilingual programs.
7:32:21
So
Randy Mastro
7:32:22
We're agreeing.
7:32:23
Except I would have brought it city wide,
Rita Joseph
7:32:25
city.
7:32:26
But you didn't.
7:32:26
But I again, like I said,
Randy Mastro
7:32:28
I I didn't have a chance
Rita Joseph
7:32:29
always the non educators that are leading education fights.
7:32:33
So giving your involvement in this task force, we're gonna focus back on the bilingual education You wanted to do bilingual education reform.
7:32:40
How do you think the principles of fairness, equity should apply in current education policies, especially in a diverse city like New York City, where we speak over more than a 160 languages with a new influx of new New Yorkers in our schools.
Randy Mastro
7:32:55
They absolutely have to apply, and that's why it's more important than ever that we have a commitment to bilingual education and creative approaches to make sure that our kids get educated and have the best opportunity to succeed in life.
7:33:09
That's what that commission was about because too many kids were ending up in special ed and giving and
Rita Joseph
7:33:15
how are they ending how are they ending up there?
7:33:17
Because they don't just get there.
7:33:18
You have to write a letter SBSC team.
7:33:20
They have to be screened.
7:33:21
How do we get there?
7:33:22
How do we get them into special education?
Randy Mastro
7:33:27
The outcomes in bilingual education programs were resulting in too many children being diverted into special education.
Diana Ayala
7:33:37
Because it
Rita Joseph
7:33:37
was a cultural thing, and there was no one there.
7:33:39
To be cultural, and we had students that were also scythe.
7:33:42
Right?
7:33:42
We have a lot of students that enter the system that was with interrupted formal education.
Randy Mastro
7:33:47
I agree with you.
Rita Joseph
7:33:48
And and you and we were screening them as special education, but you said they ended up I wasn't
UNKNOWN
7:33:53
standing up standing up
Randy Mastro
7:33:53
anybody.
7:33:54
Wasn't screened anybody.
Rita Joseph
7:33:55
Well, that's how they get screened.
7:33:56
It it's not an overnight process to get into, especially No.
Randy Mastro
7:33:59
But we're in we're in violent agreement that that was happening too often.
7:34:04
And I I was simply suggesting that more choice for parents might actually improve outcomes.
Rita Joseph
7:34:11
But we have choices.
7:34:12
We have stand alone.
7:34:14
We have pushing.
7:34:14
We have immersion.
7:34:16
We have bilingual programs.
7:34:18
So there's different varieties.
7:34:19
Because when you take the hills, you have to sit and the family has to sit and watch a video and decide which type of setting they want for their children, whether it's a push and pull out immersion bilingual or stand alone.
Randy Mastro
7:34:34
Okay.
7:34:34
I I I hear you.
7:34:36
I haven't been involved in this for 25 years.
Rita Joseph
7:34:38
I've been involved for 22 years before I became a council member.
Randy Mastro
7:34:41
I I think that's fantastic.
7:34:42
I I, you know, and I applaud your service, and it's the highest calling.
7:34:47
My father was a teacher too.