www.EDUCATIONUPDATE.com AwardAward Volume XIII, No. 11 • New York City • July 2008 Winner FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS & STUDENTS NYCNYC AblazeAblaze:: SummerSummer InIn TheThe CityCity PRESORTED STANDARD THE EDUCATION U.S. POSTAGE UPDATE PAID EDUCATION UPDATE ■ FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS & STUDENTS ■ JULY 2008 GUEST EDITORIAL Education updatE Mailing Address: The True Meaning of Rewarding Excellence in Education 695 Park Avenue, Ste. E1509 By ALFRED S. POSAMENTIER, Ph.D. scores on the Advanced-Placement test. Such New York, NY 10065 Reward is often an excellent motivator. A dedication should never go unnoticed and should Email: [email protected] www.EducationUpdate.com reward can come in the form of an acclaimed be appropriately recognized by peers and others, Tel: 212-650-3552 Fax: 212-772-4769 achievement, acknowledgements by peers and as is the case this year by Education Update. superiors, or simply self-recognition of desired It would be nice if, in the course of time, the PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF: achievements. Naturally, monetary rewards are education systems in the United States could also Pola Rosen, Ed.D. frequently treasured, but they are, by no means, recognize such extraordinary dedication through always the most effective rewards. Today, the salary rewards. Alternatively, a tiered promo- ADVISORY COUNCIL: Mary Brabeck, Dean, NYU School of teaching profession, in an effort to attract more tional system, analogous to that at the university of the very best practitioners, is in dire need of level, where there are different levels of profes- Education; Sheila Evans-Tranumn, Assoc. achievement rewards, or acknowledgements of sorship, might also be instituted at the pre-col- Comm. of Education, NYS; Charlotte K. successful work. There is not much we can do lege level. For example, teachers might be able Frank, Ph.D., Senior VP, McGraw-Hill; Joan about educator salaries, since these are typi- to attain various levels, such as intern teacher, Freilich, Ph.D., Trustee, Barnard College & cally negotiated between staff and union with novice teacher, teacher, lead teacher, and master College of New Rochelle; Andrew Gardner, many other considerations bartered on the table. teacher. Each of these might then be on graduated Technology Teacher & Advisor, The However, there are many non-monetary rewards to acknowledge outstanding and dedicated work salary schedules. School at Columbia U.; Cynthia Greenleaf, which can also serve as motivators. This is par- of teachers and other educators. For example, The idea of recognizing outstanding teach- Ph.D., Director, Partnerships, Chicago ticularly necessary at a time when we are facing one of the outstanding teacher Education Update ers, which is slowly becoming institutionalized Public Schools; Augusta S. Kappner, a crisis of teacher shortages in many critical areas awardees this year, Jane Viau, a math teacher at through Education Update, should be a wake-up Ph.D., President, Bank St. College; of education. One possible reward is acclamation the Frederick Douglass Academy, was selected call to the profession that one of the best ways to Bonnie Kaiser, Ph.D., Director, Precollege by peers for outstanding work. on the basis of her fine teaching skills and exem- motivate teachers is through a sensible and fair Program, Rockefeller University; Harold The Education Update newspaper has, over plary dedication to the profession. This profes- reward system. Koplewicz, M.D., Founder & Director, the past couple of years, taken this form of sional entered teaching a bit later in life than Dr. Alfred Posamentier is Dean of the School NYU Child Study Center; Ernest Logan, professional motivation to heart with its annual most, after having had a successful career in the of Education at City College of NY, author of Pres., CSA; Cecilia McCarton, M.D., Dir., Outstanding Educator of the Year awards. Sadly, finance world, and sacrificing a salary, which was over 40 Mathematics books including: “Math The McCarton Center; Eric Nadelstern, there are not enough such “competitions” for ten times that which she is earning as a teacher. Wonders to Inspire Teachers and Students” CEO, Empowerment Schools, NYC; educators, one of the most important professions Moreover, she also used her entire spring vaca- (ASCD, 2003) and “The Fabulous Fibonacci Alfred S. Posamentier, Ph.D., Dean, School in our society. Both regionally and subject-spe- tion to meet daily with her advanced-placement- Numbers” (Prometheus, 2007), and member of of Education, CCNY; Adam Sugerman, cific, we as a society must make a greater effort statistics class to ensure them the best possible the NYS Mathematics Standards Committee.# Publisher, Palmiche Press; Laurie Tisch, Chair, Center for Arts Education LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Heather Rosen, Adam Sugerman, Rob Wertheimer Graysville, ALABAMA tions and recognizes that education is so much Jackson’s powerful words that leaves me with Assistant Principals: Crisis Management to more than skills and facts. It must encompass a no option but to aspire to reach the very top of ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Instructional Expertise respect for the human spirit and values that tran- my educational journey, firm in my belief that, “I Justine Rivera To the Editor: scend goals and objectives. can, I will, I must.” GUEST This article has made me reflect on the idea M. Kraus, Ed. D. Aprilis Nelson COLUMNISTS: Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Jeff Downing, of becoming an assistant administrator. I have Sterling Heights, MI Brooklyn, NY Debra Epstein, Dr. Carole G. Hankin, Dr. worked in the absence of one and am aware of Ann Hohenhaus, Alfred Posamentier, Ph.D. the responsibilities involved. This article has Brooklyn, NY NEW YORK, NY opened my eyes to the difficulties principals have President Edison O. Jackson, Medgar Evers To Moscow State University for St. Tatiana’s STAFF WRITERS: and how much more my support is needed of College Day, the Students’ Holiday! Jacob Appel, J.D., Judith Aquino, Stevanne them. Thanks for opening my eyes a little more To the Editor: To the Editor: Auerbach, Ph.D., Joan Baum, Ph.D., Alberto of the expectations and responsibilities that are This article inspires me greatly and it’s a means I have been to Moscow and seen MSU but had Cepeda, Dorothy Davis, Gillian Granoff, involved. of cementing my belief, “I can do all things no idea of this celebration. I was pleased to read Richard Kagan, Sybil Maimin, Martha Loretta Nation through Christ who strengthens me.” Dr. Jackson about it. It seems in line with the Russian intel- McCarthy, Ph.D., Joy Resmovits, Emily Graysville, AL surely is a pillar of strength and hope, and as a lectual tradition, which has persisted despite the Sherwood, Ph.D., Marisa Suescun, Lisa MEC Graduate and Early Childhood Educator never-ending political turmoil. Winkler STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN at Medgar Evers College Child Development Alma Flesch Harvard’s Howard Gardner Receives Standing Center, I remain strong, holding on to Dr. New York, NY BOOK REVIEWERS: Ovation at Bank Street Event Harris Healy III, Merri Rosenberg, To the Editor: Selene Vasquez The basic premise and information in this IN THIS ISSUE MEDICAL EDITOR: article is terse but also correct. Having read this Herman Rosen, M.D. Guest Editorial . .2 book, I believe the reviewer is still missing two MODERN LANGUAGE EDITOR: salient points: a) Gardner really wants the learner Letters to the Editor . .2 Adam Sugerman (of any age) to relish the experience and be intrin- sically motivated to accrue even more knowledge Spotlight on Schools. 3-6, 10 MOVIE & THEATER REVIEWS: and information and value the process as well as Special: ANIMALS. 7 Jan Aaron the applications and inferences. b) Gardner wants MUSIC EDITOR: the learner to build a structure of social skills that CENTER STORY. 8-9 Irving M. Spitz promote the notion of idea sharing; integration of Medical Update. 11 information through familiarity and human inter- ART DIRECTOR: connection for the mutual benefit of all human Colleges & Grad Schools. 12-14 Neil Schuldiner elements. He is, in fact, reminding all leaders to Sports . .14 ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT: set a moral prerogative and an inspired respect for Martin Lieberman, Manager; others while honing cognitive skills and applica- Books . .15 Richard Kagan, Chris Rowan INTERNS: Naima Karp, Reni Shulman, Chloe Texier-Rose Education Update is published monthly by Education Update, Inc. All material is copy- righted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Education Update, P.O. Box 2358, Lenox Hill Station, NY, NY 10021 Subscription: Annual $30. Copyright © 2008 Education Update EDUCATION UPDATE is an independent newspaper Online Zombies:EdUpdateJULY 2008 7/10/08 ■ FOR10:54 PAREAM PageN TS,1 EDUCATORS & STUDENTS ■ EDUCATION UPDATE CUNY’s Online Baccalaureate The degree you need for the life you want • Complete your degree online, majoring in Business or Communication and Culture • Affordable and open to students who have earned at least 30 credits from an accredited college or university OPEN Apply Now... Start This Fall! HOUSES: Visit www.cuny.edu/online or 212-652-CUNY (2869) • Tuesday, July 15, 6 p.m. • Tuesday, July 29, 6 p.m. • Tuesday, August 5, 6 p.m. CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street, New York City Walk-in Admissions/ Advisement Center, 101 West 31 Street, New York City, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., School of Professional Studies Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday Online Baccalaureate EDUCATION UPDATE ■ FOR PARENTS, EDUCATORS & STUDENTS ■ JULY 2008 METROBEAT ThE DEAN’S COLUMN KEEPING NEW YORK CITY STANLEY H. KAPLAN SUPPORTS MOVING FORWARD MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH By Mayor MICHAEL BLOOMBERG The start of summer always brings a flurry INSTRUCTION AT CCNY of activity as we close out the school year, finalize the City’s budget, and wrap up the By ALFRED POSAMENTIER, Ph.D. legislative session in Albany. This year, I am Several years ago, the math-teacher shortage happy to report that we’ve ended on a high note in New York City secondary schools reached on all three counts.