Ruben, Do Your Homework

The way politicians are humping the Paula Ohaus drama- and humping it hard- for their proxy war on Mayor Zimmer has so turned me off that I've largely avoided the topic, online and in the papers.

Which means I hadn't read the letter State Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, Jr. wrote to the Editor of Patch.

Just like one doesn't have  to smell garbage to know it stinks, one doesn't have to read the letter of a political candidate during election season to know it's about the bottom line- getting votes.   And GA doesn't care for politicians campaigning on the backs of children, so with that in mind I ignored Ramos' letter.

Until today- a friend directed me to this passage:

"In the Johns Hopkins program, that instructor has organized a curriculum that has enabled students previously non-achieving in math to not only achieve, but thirst for knowledge and pursue their dreams."

Somebody, quick!   Take this away from Ruben:


I am sorry...but since Ramos begins his letter this way:
"As Hoboken’s State Assemblyman and a public school teacher myself, I have watched the recent Hoboken Board of Education meetings with much interest."
...one expects that he's actually WATCHED these meetings and KNOWS what he's talking about.

Wrong.

His ignorance of the fundamentals of the Johns Hopkins program shows that he HASN'T paid attention at ALL.  It just validates GA's assumption that he's politicizing a School Board issue for his own political advantage.

Worse, Ruben Ramos has actually INSULTED every child participating in the Johns Hopkins program by calling them "non-achievers". Imagine that.

Ruben, you own these kids an APOLOGY.

My daughter is in the Johns Hopkins Gifted and Talented Program, so let me set you straight about the program.  Children with a record of achievement are selected to take a competitive exam for acceptance into the program. The children are tested at 2 grades above their level;  so if my daughter is in 3rd grade (she is) that means she was tested at the 5th grade-level.

You don't have to take my word- here's her Johns Hopkins test result: she scored in the 93rd percentile at the 5th-grade level, meaning she scored higher than 93% of 5th graders who took the same test.

Is that what you call "non-achieving", Mr. Ramos?



You've certainly hurt any Johns Hopkins child who's read your ill-informed remarks.

Why would you call kids 'non-achieveing' without doing minimal due diligence to understand the program and its mission?

Here it is.

The  entire purpose of the Johns Hopkins Gifted and Talented Program is to provide stimulation and advancement for high-achieving kids beyond what their current school curriculum can  offer at their grade level.  And by doing so, keep them excited and encouraged about school, and the opportunities ahead.

Ms. Hildebrandt is wonderful.  I hope whatever the issues are they can be worked out and she can continue her great work with our children.

We DO need the program, the one she created for our district.

We DON'T need politicians glomming onto matters they know little about, in this  case insulting hardworking kids, all for scoring some votes.

Comments

  1. Hooray, GA! For calling out the Clown Ramos. This guy's got the right looks and the right-sounding last name, but he is one lame pol. Those people who claim to be tired of patronage, need to stand tall and vote for Ravi Bhalla, not Ruben Ramos. Ramos is a cog in the Hudson Democratic Machine. Nothing good can come from his election.

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  2. Hey,rudydawg.

    This is unforgivable. If the guy wanted to pounce on a 'hot' local issue- one that concerned CHILDREN he owed it to them to do minimal due diligence to know what he was talking about before calling ANY of them "non-achieving".

    I know a lot of these kids. They're hard-working little sweethearts, good kids, smart kids. And sensitive. They don't deserve to be called "non-achievers" by some uniformed, slick politician too lazy to get up to speed on the issue he claims to be following.

    I am serious about the apology. He needs to make amends for hurting these children. And set the record straight.

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