September 28, 2005
by Dylan Skriloff
The nation and the state both need to improve their education systems in order to compete in the international economy New York State Education Commissioner, Richard M. Mills said in a speech at the RBA's September General Membership Luncheon.
"We need to talk," Mills first said to the crowd after being introduced by RBA CEO/President Al Samuels. He is concerned that the United States is falling behind in the highly competitive global economy and one of the reasons for this is low educational standards.
He praised the strict requirements in the Federal No Child Left Behind Act and the new, more stringent Regents requirements in New York State. He particularly emphasized the need to elevate the achievement level of poor and minority districts and stated that every single student in the system can and must be ready to succeed in society.
In order to succeed, "We must set expectations that are outrageously high," he said.
Some common aims all educators should have are that every student read by 2nd grade, that all Middle School graduates are ready for High School and that High School graduates are ready for Higher Education. After graduating college the students should be ready to perform in the real world.
Mills took on critics of the No Child Left Behind Act, saying that the tougher curriculum and standards were necessary for the country's survival. "Some say it's all well and good that some can't do this. They say to slow down. But the economy is driving us for higher standards faster," he said.
Competitors were improving their education infrastructure at a fast pace and so must the U.S. "China has 1.2 billion people, they can afford to make mistakes. We can't afford mistakes," he said. He also noted that the types of job opportunities have changed. Two thirds of the 30 fastest growing occupations will require post-secondary diplomas.
"The day of the low skilled job is done. It's over…The future is technology and robotics," Mill said. He recalled working in a factory as a teenager and then recently visiting a factory and noticing the tremendous difference. As a teen, the factory was dingy and dangerous and had many low-skill workers, while the newer factories are run by highly educated people behind screens who are paid well.
He praised New York's progress in instituting higher standards statewide. Students had been graduating with 8th grade education levels, he said. Now everyone must have Regents Level Education. Test scores in the state have increased and NY leads the nation with 92 percent of students taking the SATs, he said.
Mills believes the job is only half done. The second more difficult task is now at hand; to bring the performance of minority and poor districts up to par. By 4th grade only 45 percent of Black and Hispanic students reach the appropriate reading and writing levels, while 80 percent of white students do. Eighty percent is not good, but 45 percent is outrageous, Mills said. Likewise, 50 percent of big city students pass high school in four years while 80 percent of suburban students do, Mills noted with incredulity again stating that the 80 percent figure needs to be improved but that the 50 percent figure was simply unacceptable.
Despite its troubles, New York's education system is one of its greatest advantages, Mill said. "We have a huge advantage; SUNY. No one else on the planet has an educational structure like we do. We have a pipeline of talent but what I see missing is teamwork, people calling up and down the chain to help."
Individuals are doing their best in their own little sections but people need to talk to each other, Mills said, comparing the situation to Little League, when his coach told the players to "keep it up, keep up the chatter."
Mills encouraged better oversight by local school boards and called for accountability within school systems that every student is ready to advance to the next level. He noted that high schools are weighed down by a small percentage of students not prepared for the work.
High school principles should expect prepared graduates from middle school and be willing to demand this from Middle School principles. Likewise they should call college officials to see how their students are performing.
To save money, schools should combine their resources when possible, Mills suggested. He said while most school districts won't want to combine their athletic teams but there should be no problem combining other services such as cafeteria food.
He called on the business community and people in general to keep the issue in the spotlight. He wanted businesses to be built and grown in the United States.
"Educators have obligation to make certain the talent is here and we will," he said.
Mills speech elicited strong crowd reactions, most of which stayed long past 1:30, when the RBA luncheon officially ends.
Anita Levine of Commerce Bank presented the commissioner with a troubling situation. Her husband had left his profession to be a middle school teacher in the Bronx and came to a school with no curriculum and students who could not read. When he asked the school's principle what he could do about this he was told, "Just do what it takes."
Levine asked the Commissioner, "How is this possible?" And she asked him what can be done about this. Mills responded that he didn't have an answer except that he'd personally talk to Levine's husband about it. This statement garnered a round of applause from the RBA members still in attendance.
Greg Parseghian, General Manager of the Best Western in Nyack said he believed the Commissioner's goals could be reached if the people in New York have the will power.
"If the citizenry wants to turn it around, it can be done," Parseghian said.
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