New York students low scores: Letters to the Editor Aug. 11, 2026
New York state education policies are the perfect example of insanity: Doing the same thing over and over, expecting that somehow things will be different (“Bad read: NYS failing kids,” Aug.8).We already spend double the national average per student.
And for what? And what will our state legislators do about these falling literacy rates? Authorize an increase in education funding.We should close schools that are poorly performing, fire teachers who can’t or won’t teach, eliminate the bloated bureaucracy that’s been allowed to flourish, hold principals and teachers accountable — and stop throwing money at this problem: It’s not working.Kim GamacheSaratoga SpringsYour article shaming the teachers unions for the abysmal reading scores is partly on point, but does not go far enough in spreading the blame.While the unions, their leaders and bureaucratic administrators are all at fault, those faults can easily be overcome by parents setting priorities for their children’s education.Television, video games and cellphones, all provided by parents, have replaced books, and children are not being taught that reading can be fun.Daniel HodgeUnion, NJWe refuse to admit that many of the problems throughout the New York City school system result from a complete lack of discipline.
Teachers have to waste far too much time constantly disciplining disruptive students.The last several mayors have made it virtually impossible to suspend troublemakers.We don’t need mayoral control — we need people who know the system to run it.
Bring back the schools for the recalcitrant.Our school system went southward when these schools were abolished due to alleged racism.
No child has the right to disrupt another child’s education.Ed GreenspanBrooklynThe state of child education in New York is frightening.But more frightening is that progressive socialists are getting exactly what they want.An illiterate population fits perfectly with socialists’ plans.
Educated people a...