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Volume XXI • Number 5 • January 30 - February 5, 2014 •
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Dinowitz demands ‘back to basics’ in schools Albany- Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D-Bronx) has drafted and will soon introduce legislation that would require both cursive writing and memorization of the multiplication table to be part of the basic education curriculum in New York. With the implementation of Common Core in New York State, students are more and more often skipping once fundamental elements of their educational foundation. Currently, there is no requirement in the Common Core for students to be taught cursive writing or to memorize the multiplication table. The new Dinowitz legislation would require that these two fundamental building blocks of our children’s education are kept in schools, even if they are not required as part of any
of the now numerous standardized tests students are subjected to. “The notion that a pupil could graduate from 12 years of education without knowing how to sign his or her name in cursive is unacceptable,” Dinowitz said. “Additionally, the ability for pupils to show competency in basic multiplication through a proven method schools have used for years is of the utmost importance.” The legislation would amend section 801 of the New York State education law, which requires certain elements of the state’s education curriculum to be maintained and implemented in order to create well rounded students that are well versed in subject matters deemed
fundamental throughout the years. Cursive writing and knowledge of the multiplication table would thus be deemed “fundamental” and as a result would be required in schools. “As schools move more and more to ‘teaching to the test’ and away from what once was considered essential parts of a child’s learning process, I am hopeful that this legislation will keep what I consider to be crucial components of one’s education part of the curriculum,” Dinowitz said. “We can adhere to the Common Core curriculum, while at the same time ensuring our children know how to read and write in cursive as well as perform basic multiplication. The two are in no way mutually exclusive.”
Elected officials speak their mind at Sunday’s Whitehall lunch By JEFF KLAPPER Last Sunday,Riverdale’s elected officials addressed hot button issues at a brunch at the Whitehall building, among Riverdale’s most prestigious addresses. Riverdale’s political firepower was packed in a basement card room as State Senator Jeffrey Klein, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, City Councilman Andrew Cohen, and Congressman Eliot Engel spoke to the audience between bagels and sips of coffee. The talk had the flavor of a town hall meeting but it was restricted to Whitehall residents and their guests. The talk neither had the decorum nor official tone of a pre-election debate. It was more like having political movers and shakers over for coffee in your living room. Len Daykin, coordinator of special events at the Whitehall, planned the event and emceed the talk. He decided that since 2014 is an election year he would put aside the regular diet of movies and performers and present the four elected officials who govern Riverdale. Daykin opened the talk by introducing Eliot Engel in absentia as Elliot was no where to be found. Daykin rattled off Engel’s accomplishments like a dean bestowing awards at graduation. Engel is a ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee on Human rights and sponsored a bill to recognize Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel. In the middle of Daykin’s introduction Engel bolted in out of the blue. Speaking of the devil! The first words out of the Congressman’s mouth were that he has ants in his pants because he has to catch a plane in only an hour and change. You wondered at what point of his discussion
of Iranian disarmament would he stop in mid-sentence, drop his papers, and jump into a waiting cab. Engel stressed his unwavering support for Israel in Congress and was happy that there is strong bi-partisan support for Israel in Congress. Engel did not mention any particular Israel issue on his agenda. He expressed antipathy toward the Iranian regime and feels Obama and western countries are simply appeasing Tehran.”I don’t trust them, I don’t believe them” The sanctions have been loosened without Tehran being forced to produce real concessions, even as they continue to enrich bomb- producing uranium and the centrifuges spin. Closer to home, Engel thinks the economy is turning around but to make a dent in unemployment the country should revive the massive federal work projects of Roosevelt’s “new deal” to improve the nations infrastructure Eliot is for recognizing “undocumented immigrants”. “You can’t put your head in the sand.. and pretend 13 million people don’t exist”. Keeping one eye on the clock, without fielding questions, the congressman dashes out of the room, his coattails flying, as he takes off for the friendly skies. He wouldn’t say where to. Washington? Tel-Aviv. Vegas? Engel literally flew the coup, leaving a trio of politicos that were introduced as the “dream team.” State senator Jeffrey Klein took his turn at bat. Echoing Engel’s concern with Israel, he slammed the American Studies Association, an organization of U.S. Colleges that has boycotted Israeli institutions and profes-
sors. “these geniuses decided to meddle in scholastic freedom and decided to boycott Israel” This week Klein is pushing a bill that would withdraw New York state funds for colleges that boycott Israel. Domestically, Klein brims with pride at having sponsored the New York Safe Act, a comprehensive ban on guns and assault weapons, which is the toughest in the country. Klein turned his attention to economic issues: He pushed to raise N. Y’s minimum wage to nine dollars an hour(effective next year) and is for tax cuts to put more money in consumers’
pockets. He supports child care tax credits to defray New York’s exorbitant cost ($5000-$15000 per child) of child care, the highest in America. Klein endorses a Veteran s tax credit ,granting $5,000 in tax credits to anyone who employs a veteran. Klein endorses a tax credit that would exempt consumers from taxes on increases in utility bills. He supports the New York State E.P.I.C .(Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage) a program that assists poor senior citizens (annual income under $35,000) with the costs of prescription drugs. Klein wants to increase the eligibility ceiling
to $75,000). The audience he was speaking to contained many senior citizens. Jeffrey Klein said his peace. Now it was the turn of the the other “Jeffrey”, Riverdale’s nine- term assemblyman, Jeffrey Dinowitz, to speak. Dinowitz in twenty years has become a walking landmark of Riverdale, who can be spotted on the streets chatting with store owners, policemen, and teachers. Dinowitz was the first to address neighborhood issues and reminded the audience that he lives right near the Whitehall and as a neighbor understands Continued on Page 9
At this weekend’s Legislative Bagels and Brunch event, sponsored by the Whitehall Co-op Board. Pictured in the photo are Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, State Senator Jeff Klein, Council Member Andrew Cohen and members of the Whitehall Co-op Board including, Judy Sonnett (second from the left) and Len Daykin (between Klein and Dinowitz).