WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES APRIL 11, 2019 13
LETTERS AND COMMENTS
IN PRAISE OF A
FASTER 7 LINE
Until a couple of months ago, most of
us straphangers on the 7 line, including
this writer, couldn’t help moaning and
groaning about the everyday delays and
pauses due to signal malfunctions and
other technical problems in the tracks.
And this being our only aff ordable
means of commuting between Flushing
and Midtown Manhattan, we felt rightful
to condemn and even curse the offi cials
in charge for not doing anything to fi x
the plagued system.
But since the middle of January, relief
seemed to have come down from heaven,
and to be fair, ti came not from heaven but
from those offi cials we thought weren’t
giving a damn about our plight.
The trains are now leaving their
terminals with minimal delays, and
speeding down their tracks in record
short times for the trips.
In all fairness, we owe gratitude to the
responsible parties, of whom at least one
we are familiar with, Mr. Andy Byford!
Kuresh Dilmanian, Great Neck
LOST TREES BY
THE PARKWAY
I recently was on a bus that was taking
me to Queens Borough Hall. I was totally
shocked as the bus passed by the Kew
Gardens Interchange to see that almost
all of the trees along the highways at that
location had been cut down. It looked
like a bomb had hit the area.
Many of the trees that were cut for this
project were huge mature trees that had
been there for decades. The state DOT
reportedly promised to replant once
their project is completed.
The agency does not seem to realize
that mature trees are capable of cleaning
the air much more effectively than
smaller trees. Smaller trees will take
decades before they can do the job that
a mature tree can do.
The canopy formed by mature trees is
priceless to our city and its inhabitants
and should be cherished for the
wonderful job that can be accomplished
in cleaning our air. During the summer
months, trees help keep us cool and assist
in cutting down on air conditioning
costs.
All too often, trees are destroyed
because they are treated as obstacles
and hindrances. Healthy specimens are
frequently removed in all neighborhoods
for a variety of reasons, usually because
they are a “bother” or “in the way”.
I feel very sorry for the residents in
the immediate area of the Kew Gardens
interchange. They will be breathing in
less clean air for decades. They will be
experiencing increased noise levels day
and night because the buff er that the
trees had provided is no longer there.
Who knows what eff ect this will have
on the health of these people?
Henry Euler, Bayside
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OP-ED
BY TOBY ANN STAVISKY
I note with dismay the recent
report on the lack of diversity
in the incoming classes at the
Specialized High Schools.
Approximately five years
ago, I made several suggestions
to the Mayor’s of fice and the
Department of Education (DOE)
on how to improve diversity. The
DOE has done little to remedy
the imbalance except for their
ill-advised proposal to eliminate
the exam.
Specifically, I recommended
that gifted and talented programs
be of fered in all communities.
Chi ldren must be identif ied
as early as the third grade.
Currently, parents can “optin”
to have their child tested. I
introduced legislation so each
child would be tested unless the
parent “opts-out.” With these
programs in all neighborhoods
and ident i f ying children
earlier, they will be exposed
to accelerated and enriched
programs.
I also suggested offering free
test preparation and a pre-SHSAT
practice exam in the sixth grade,
prior to their entrance to middle
school. The DREAM program
is available during after school
hours and on weekends. It helps
prepare seventh grade students
to take the SHSAT exam in the
eighth grade.
Currently, the DREAM program
has a waiting list and is available
only in a limited number of school
districts. This program must
be expanded.
The Discovery Program claims
to improve diversity by offering
admission to the Specialized High
Schools to borderline students
but these programs have had
little effect. Many families are
unaware they exist because the
City has not conducted effective
outreach. DOE personnel must
actively work with all schools to
let them know about all programs
and opportunities.
Although African Americans
and Latinos make up 70% of the
public school population, they
only make-up 44% of those taking
the exam. The low numbers of
minority students who take the
SHSAT demonstrate that DOE
outreach is inadequate. Lastly,
more Specialized High Schools
should be created. There is no
reason for such a limited number
of schools.
There are currently 439 high
schools. The focus should include
improving the other 430 high
schools. We should ask the DOE
what they are doing to make these
430 schools better. We should ask
what they are doing to help the
124 struggling schools.
Eighty-four of these schools,
in the lowest category, are in
greatest need. They are plagued
with lack of proficiency on
standardized tests, and other
measures used to determine
growth and improvement. We
should focus on how to help these
schools.
All children can learn and
thrive. We need to identify
them, encourage and nurture
them. Most important ly, we
should not let the DOE distract
and divide us, pit one group
against another. We should all
work together. We are united
in our mission – better schools
for everyone.
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky
chairs the Senate Higher Education
Committee. She’s also a graduate
of the Bronx High School of Science,
the mother of a Bronx High School
of Science graduate and a former
teacher at Brooklyn Tech.
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