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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
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Letter about Malverne SD...
I just thought I would share. Newsday did an entire article on how great diversity is in SD's for children. And this is a follow up letter published in Newsday.
School diversity is an advantage
I could not agree more with Jenna Kern-Rugile, but wish to offer what I consider to be a model example of diversity in the public school system ["Schools need a lesson in diversity," Opinion, March 18].
I live in the Village of Lynbrook, but my children attend Davison Avenue Elementary School in the Malverne school district. Malverne was one of the first districts on Long Island to be integrated, and it was not well received by all at the time.
I was apprehensive to send my children amid the very negative gossip generated by many people who lived in Malverne and sent their children to the two Catholic schools in the area. On the first day of school as we all lined up outside, I was happily relieved. I saw a very balanced, integrated group of children and parents.
Now in our second year, I am beyond delighted. Each of my children's classes is evenly split among white, black, Hispanic, South Asian and Asian students. My children do not talk about their black, Hispanic and white friends; they call them by name. The nonsense gossip put forth by those who opted out of public school was and is nothing more than their own fear and justification for separatism.
Districts that are 90 percent or more white do not reflect the real world. Isolation just cannot work in the future.
Anita Marco
Lynbrook
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Posted 3/20/08 10:45 AM  |
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jenn28
LIF Infant
Member since 3/07 178 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
I am happy to read your post. Since I live down the strret from the Davidson Ave school. I am so sick of people saying, "Oh you live in the Malverne school district." I feel as if they are looking down upon me and my neighbors. If more people from the community sent there kids to the publci schools, then our schools would be even better.
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| Posted 3/20/08 12:46 PM |
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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
I know. And funny thing is that the more "desirable" part of Malverne is becoming the less desirable now because it is not in Malverne SD. I think if the word got out more how great our SD really is, it will help with all the rumors. Last yr they actually had to add another Kindergarten class because so many more people from Malverne are sending there kids there.
It is really great to see. I am so sick of people bashing it when they know nothing about it. Just he said, she said.
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| Posted 3/20/08 12:51 PM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
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Jeannie
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
I want to understand the integration better. I don't know Malverne - but I am guessing that it is a predominantly white community - where are the non-white classmates coming from? Are they coming from predominantly minority communities? Are the schools in the districts that they are coming from also integrated - kind of like an exchange?
I absolutely agree that diversity in schools is important - I am just curious as to how this is accomplished.
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| Posted 3/20/08 1:12 PM |
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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
Lakeview is the town next door. They do not have their own district. They use Malverne's. The are predominantly a black community. The town is about the same size of Malverne.
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| Posted 3/20/08 1:14 PM |
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Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
Posted by rojerono
I want to understand the integration better. I don't know Malverne - but I am guessing that it is a predominantly white community - where are the non-white classmates coming from? Are they coming from predominantly minority communities? Are the schools in the districts that they are coming from also integrated - kind of like an exchange?
I absolutely agree that diversity in schools is important - I am just curious as to how this is accomplished.
Lakeview which is directly behind Malverne hs.
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| Posted 3/20/08 1:20 PM |
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Tah-wee-ZAH
Kisses
Member since 5/05 15952 total posts
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
Posted by 5ofClubs
Districts that are 90 percent or more white do not reflect the real world. Isolation just cannot work in the future.
Anita Marco
Lynbrook
I have to agree with this 100%.
I have taught in a LI high school for 11 years and I think I've had maybe 3 African American students and a few Asian and Latino Americans.
Even Jewish kids, while being greater in number than the groups I mentioned above, still seem much smaller in number compared to other districts.
The lack of diversity in my district is mind-boggling in this day and age.
Unfortunately, not a week goes by where I don't hear or witness the most IGNORANT comments coming from a student
Several students in the high school know next to nothing about Judaism... forget about it when I ask (World History class) about Islam, China vs. Japan vs. Vietnam... the stereotypes and misinformation coming spewing from their mouths Considering the internet age we live in today and the amount of information these kids are exposed to, I feel there is no excuse for such ignorance today, from anyone.
As the world history teacher, I take the initiative and take A LOT of classroom time reeducating and combating against the ignorance but in all honestly, I wouldn't have to if these kids were just exposed to different cultures, religions, races, etc. from a very early age. I'm at the point where it does cut into time to prep for Regents skills.
Message edited 3/20/2008 1:35:37 PM.
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| Posted 3/20/08 1:34 PM |
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gerdee
LIF Zygote
Member since 2/08 22 total posts
Name:
G
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
NO offense to anyone and you can say all you want, but....Malverne is not a desirable school district (despite the diversity) on Long Island and I would never consider sending my children to school there. This is just my honest opinion.
With this said however, having children subjected to diversity in school will most certainly benefit them in the long run, but for me, it will not be in the Malverne school district.
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| Posted 3/20/08 1:49 PM |
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LIMOMx2
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Member since 5/05 24989 total posts
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
Posted by gerdee
NO offense to anyone and you can say all you want, but....Malverne is not a desirable school district (despite the diversity) on Long Island and I would never consider sending my children to school there. This is just my honest opinion.
With this said however, having children subjected to diversity in school will most certainly benefit them in the long run, but for me, it will not be in the Malverne school district.
And how do you know this? Did you have a bad experience there? Seems to be weird this being your 2nd post. Check out the test scores for yourself. I know a lot of people that work and are in the district and who have gone through the district. So I know first hand your statement is false. Did you work there and get fired? I know that someone else on the boards bad mouthed the district because they were fired, not because of anything else. So sad.
Message edited 3/20/2008 2:37:06 PM.
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| Posted 3/20/08 2:34 PM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
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Jeannie
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
I live in a predominantly white school district. I am slightly concerned about the lack of diversity - but I don't know if/what can be done to change that. If there were another community without it's own school district close by, I think I would welcome the integration.. but that isn't the case.
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| Posted 3/20/08 3:15 PM |
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browneyedgirl
family is all that matters
Member since 6/06 6513 total posts
Name:
browneyes
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
Posted by 5ofClubs
Did you work there and get fired? I know that someone else on the boards bad mouthed the district because they were fired, not because of anything else. So sad.
if by any chance you are referring to me, when we had our discussion over a year ago, i was not fired. i'm actually teaching in a top district on the island now. 
i apologize if it's not me you're referring to, but this definitely caught my attention because of our discussions. i continue to have my own opinions on several districts based on my own experiences there.
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| Posted 3/20/08 8:31 PM |
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jenn28
LIF Infant
Member since 3/07 178 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
I think we all must remember that parent involvement is very important and that not every child who goes to school in a "good school district" does well. If children are supported and they have good teachers they will do well. The scores represented in the paper are the average of all the children. Unfortunately whether we like it or not the socio-economic status does play a part in a child's test grades in school. Therefore since the socio-economic status of the students in the Malverne district greatly differs, it can be seen in test scores. (Not to say that all kids with $$, do well. I have a few friends who came from alot of $$$ and they were lazy in school)
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| Posted 3/20/08 8:41 PM |
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karacg
Babygirl is 4!
Member since 5/05 17076 total posts
Name:
Kara®
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
My sister and brothers went to Malverne HS and were there during integration.
I've said it before, I'll say it again - they are all extremely successful and got great educations there, and neither they nor anyone in our family judge people by their color, race, creed, etc.
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| Posted 3/20/08 9:58 PM |
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sunnyplus3
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Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
Its a shame that even with written proof, some people will just remain too ignorant to see the truth.
Those attitudes promote keeping Long Island one of the most segregated metro-suburbs in the country.
Its pretty sad that white people on LI want their kids to go to mostly white schools-assuming that means a better education. How will those people feel when/if we have a black governor & a black president?
I'd be ashamed of myself as a parent if my children didn't have many friends & acquaintances of all races. What a disgrace.
The state board of ed can keep giving standardized tests, but it is a fact that the numbers don't tell the whole story.
My favorite is the
"number of students attending four year college"
To me that number is almost irrelevant, especially in a town like Jericho or Lloyd Harbor....every child there can get into some private school somewhere because their parents can afford to fork over as much cash as needed.
Show me how many kids GRADUATE from a four year school, then I'll be impressed.
Same goes with SAT scores, if johnny from jericho's parents fork over thousands of dollars in private tutors for two years before the SAT, I'd expect him to have an outstanding score.
Now if Wendy from Wyandanch gets an average score when both of her parents were high school drop outs & she works a part time job after school everyday & studied on her own, That is impressive!!!!
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| Posted 3/21/08 8:06 AM |
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Otherme
Square head cutie pants
Member since 3/06 6899 total posts
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
I posted something in another post about Malverne not being a desirable school district - and i'll admit it was completely based on hearsay, not on any facts i checked out myself.
I'm feeling pretty ashamed about it now actually 
My apologies to anyone who took offense. Seeing this letter certainly makes me think twice before just repeating what other people who live in that area have told me without having first hand knowledge of it.
The last thing i would want to do is to give the impression i'm not tolerant of anyone. I want my kids (whenever i have them) to be exposed to as many other type of cultures as they can be. I think it helps make you a more tolerant, understanding human being and not an ignorant idiot.
I can't believe the things that come out of some of my friends mouths (who went to all white schools btw)
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| Posted 3/21/08 1:39 PM |
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jenn28
LIF Infant
Member since 3/07 178 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
I couldn't agree more with Kelly.
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| Posted 3/21/08 4:36 PM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
A bump to go with the school stats thread.
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| Posted 3/22/08 10:36 PM |
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ann2008
LIF Zygote
Member since 3/08 1 total post
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Re: Letter about Malverne SD...
I would just likemto add that my husband and I both went to the Malverne School district and never had any problem in school. Now both my sons go there and we have no problem with it. This is the real world we need to teach our children that everyone is equal.
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| Posted 3/24/08 9:36 PM |
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