(CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION).
>> WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
HOW ABOUT WHETHER ELIOT SPITZER
CAN GET NEW YORK STATE DEMOCRATS
BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION?
WE TALK TO THE DEMOCRATIC
CHAIRMAN AND STATE ASSEMBLYMAN
JOE MORELLE.
>> AND WITH A PUSH FOR
ACCOUNTABILITY IN TESTS, WE LOOK
AT ONE ROCHESTER SCHOOL THAT
LOOKS AT SUCCEEDING BY
DESTANDARDIZING TESTS.
>> AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER "NEED TO
KNOW."
^
ROCHESTER'S NEWS MAGAZINE SINCE
1997, THIS IS "NEED TO KNOW."
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
I'M MICHAEL CAPUTO.
IN A NATION THAT IS POLITICALLY
PAINTED IN RED STATES AND BLUE
STATES, MOST WOULD CATEGORIZE
NEW YORK AS ONE IN THE BLUE 2
COLUMN.
NEW YORKERS VOT FOR JOHN KERRY,
RIGHT?
AND DEMOCRATS OUTNUMBER
REPUBLICANS IN THE EMPIRE STATE,
RIGHT?
THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION HAS BEEN
IN REPUBLICAN CONTROL SINCE NEWT
GINGRICH LED HIS REPUBLICAN
REVOLUTION IN 1994, NEW YORK'S
LARGEST CITY HAS A MAYOR WITH AN
R NEXT TO HIS NAME, SO STATE
DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T HAD THEIR WAY
IN A STATE IN A STATE THAT IS
SEEMINGLY SET UP FOR DEMOCRATIC
DOMINANCE N2006, GEORGE PATAKI,
REIGNING REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR,
STEPS DOWN AND THEY THINK THEY
HAVE THE PERSON, ELIOT SPITZER,
TALKED ABOUT GRABBING THE
REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED STATE
SENATE S IT GOING TO HAPPEN SNN
WE'RE GOING TO ASK JOE MORELLE,
AND HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY SINCE THE
SUMMER.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT'S GREAT TO BE HERE.
IT'S TALK ELIOT SPITZER.
HE IS A GUY THAT COMES IN WITH
ALL THE CACHET OF THE FAVORITE.
REPUBLICANS THINK THIS IS A GUY
SET UP FOR A FALL.
WE'RE READY TO ATTACK THEM.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?
>> I THINK ELIOT SPITZER IS AS
CLOSE TO A PROHIBITIVE FAVORITE
AS YOU CAN FIND IN STATE
POLITICS, PARTICULARLY THE SIZE
OF A STATE AS NEW YORK.
HE HAS HAD A TREMENDOUS TERM AS
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
I THINK HE IS ACKNOWLEDGED TO BE
ONE OF THE MOST BRIGHTEST,
SAVVIEST ATTORNEY GENERALS IN
THE COUNTRY, PERHAPS ONE OF THE
BEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE
STATE. 3
HE HAS NOT ONLY BEEN IN A
POSITION TO REGULATE NEW YORK
BUSINESSES, BUT HE HAS CHANGED
THE NIGH TOUR OF PROTECTING
INVESTORS ON WALL STREET, ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, AND AS A RESULT, I
THINK, NEW YORK LATER IN THIS
BROADCAST TRUST HIM TO DOT RIGHT
THING, AND I THINK ALBANY
CLEARLY NEEDS CHANGE.
I THINK ELLIOTT IS GOING TO BE
THAT CHANGE.
>> YOU KNOW THAT THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY IS SAYING THAT ELIOT
SPITZER HAS BEEN AGGRESSIVE
TOWARDS BUSINESS, BUT THEY WILL
SAY HE HAS BEEN PREDATORY, THAT
HE HAS BEEN CHASING BUSINESS
AWAY FROM THIS STATE.
HE WILL BE ANTI-BUSINESS.
>> MAYBE WHAT THE REPUBLICANS
WILL SAY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS SPENT AN AWFUL
LOT OF TIME TALKING TO BUSINESS
LEADERS IN MONROE COUNTY AND
ROCHESTER AND ACROSS THE STATE,
THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF
EXCITEMENT FOR ELIOT SPITZER.
I WAS WITH HIM AT THE STATE
BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING IN
GEORGIA A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE HE
SPOKE TO THE GROUP.
I WAS ON THE PANEL 4R5EU9 LATER.
THERE WAS INCREDIBLE ENTHUSIASM
FOR HIM.
THE DIFFERENCE IS IF THE
REPUBLICANS BUSINESS MEANS
DEFENDING THE ACTIONS OF
COMPANIES LIKE ENRON AND GLOBAL
CROSSING AND SOME OF THE
SHENANIGANS THEY PULLED OVER THE
EYES OF PUBLIC INVESTORS.
THESE ARE PUBLIC CORPORATIONS
WITH PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES F
THEY THINK THAT EQUATES TO THE
KIND OF BUSINESSES THAT ARE
DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS AND
TRYING TO GROW THEIR COMPANIES, 4
THEN THEY'RE MISTAKEN.
MAYBE THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM
WITH THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA, IS
THAT THEY WANT TO DEFEND PERHAPS
WALL STREET TEAM.
ELLIOTT IS VERY COMFORTABLE WITH
HIM AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY
IS VERY COMFORTABLE WITH THEM.
WHEN ELIOT SPITZER RAN THE FIRST
TIME AROUND FOR ATTORNEY
GENERAL, THE BIGGEST THING I
HEARD IS THAT THIS IS A MAN FROM
A BACKGROUND WHERE HIS FATHER IS
BANKROLLING HIS ELECTION AND HIS
CAMPAIGN.
ISN'T THIS GOING TO BE A PLATE
WHERE THE REPUBLICANS CAN WEAKEN
HIM, THAT HE IS A PRODUCT OF A
WEALTHY BACKGROUND, THAT HE
DOESN'T HAVE THE COMMON TOUCH,
THAT SOMEBODY ELSE'S BANKROLL
HAS HELPED HIM TO THIS POSITION?
>> I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WITH AS
MUCH OF A COMMON TOUCH AS ELIOT
SPITZER.
I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED
MY SMALL BUSINESS, I WAS A
RELATIVELY JUNIOR MEMBER OF
BUSINESS LEAJ LATE URE AND HE
WOULD SIT IN OUR RELATIVELY
SMALL MODEST CONFERENCE ROOM AND
HE WOULD SIT AROUND AND TALK
ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN
ROCHESTER.
ELIOT SPITZER IS A TERRIFIC
INDIVIDUAL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYBODY CAN
SUGGEST HE IS UNFIT TO BE
GOVERNOR BECAUSE HIS FATHER WAS
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER OR
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER.
ELLIOTT HAS SPEFNTS MUCH OF HIS
LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICE,
AND I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.
THAT WOE NOT HAVE BEEN
SUCCESSFUL IN RUNNING FOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL IF THAT WAS
GOING TO BIAS PEOPLE SO THAT
THEY WOULDN'T VOTE FOR HIM. 5
HE IS A KEEN INTELLECT.
HE IS A TERRIFIC INDIVIDUAL.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOVE ELIOT
SPITZER AS THE GOVERNOR.
I THINK, FRANKLY, GIVEN THE
RECORD OF GEORGE PATAKI OVER THE
LAST 12 YEARS, PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO BE ENTHUSIASTIC TO GET A
CHANGE.
>> WHAT ABOUT TOM SUOZZI, THE
ONE BEHIND THE OUSTING OF
ASSEMBLY MEMBERS AND HE A COUPLE
OF YEARS AGO, AND HE HAS AN
INTEREST IN THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE.
THE NEWS MEDIA HAS BEEN TRYING
TO DO THIS CORONATION OF ELIOT
SPITZER, BUT TOM SUOZZI, WITH
MAJOR DOLLARS BEHIND HIM, HAS
SAID TO EVERYONE HE'S RUNNING IN
THE PRIMARY.
IS SUOZZI REAL?
>> NOT IN MONROE COUNTY, HE
WON'T BE.
TOM SUOZZI HAS DONE A GOOD JOB
IN NASSAU COUNTY.
IT HAD JUST ABOUT HIT BOTTOM
THERE.
HE HAS MANAGED TO PULL IT
TOGETHER.
I THINK HE HAS A VIABLE FUTURE
IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS A
CANDIDATE, BUT IT WON'T BE FOR
GOVERNOR IN 2006, BECAUSE ELIOT
SPITZER WILL NOT ONLY HAVE THE
BROAD SUPPORT OF A PARTY
LEADERSHIP -- WE ENDORSED HIM
UNANIMOUSLY, MONROE COUNTY
DEMOCRATS, JUST A DAY AGO, AND
THERE WAS GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND
EXCITEMENT, AND NO ONE RAISED A
SINGLE WORD ABOUT TOM SUOZZI.
>> YOU REMEMBERED.
A MAVERICK CAN SOMETIMES COME
OUT OF NOWHERE.
IF YOU LOOK BACK AT PRESIDENTIAL
CAMPAIGNS, THAT'S THE GUY WHO
COMES OUT OF NOWHERE, AND ALL OF 6
A SUDDEN THERE HE IS, AND
CERTAINLY, DEMOCRATS HAVE A
HISTORY OF SEEING -- YOU KNOW, I
TALKED ABOUT A WHILE BACK THAT
ED KOCH WAS THE FAVORITE AND
MARIO CUOMO GOT IT, A GUY WHO
LOST TO ED KOCH.
YOU CAN'T DISMISS TOM SUOZZI.
>> I WON'T DISMISS HIM.
I THINK HE HAS A FINE FUTURE.
I THINK HE WILL RUN STAYED
STATEWIDE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IN
THE FUTURE.
A YEAR FROM NOW, YOU CAN HAVE ME
BACK AND ELIOT SPITZER WILL BE
THE NOMINEE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
I RARELY MAKE PREDICTIONS BUT
THIS ONE I FEEL GOOD ABOUT.
>> THERE IS ANOTHER STATEWIDE
RACE WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE
FAVORITE.
SHE IS THE INCUMBENT, HILLARY
CLINTON, BUT, YOU KNOW -- I JUST
WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS --
UNTIL SHE PROCLAIMS HER
INTENTIONS FOR 2008, AREN'T THEY
GOING TO HIT THE REPUBLICANS AND
JANINE PIRRO, HIT HER OVER THE
HEAD TIME AND AGAIN, WE DON'T
KNOW WHAT SHE IS GOING TO DO,
SHE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT,
THIS IS THE DOORMAT FOR
PRESIDENCY, THIS NEW YORK STATE?
>> IT IS ONE OF THE MOST
RIDICULOUS ARGUMENTS I HAVE EVER
HEARD IN MY LIFE.
>> WHY?
>> IT NEVER WORKS.
EVERYONE IN PUBLIC LIFE WHO
HOLDS POLITICAL OFFICE MAY BE
THINKING AT SOME POINT IN THE
FUTURE OF RUNNING FOR ANOTHER
OFFICE.
THAT'S REALLY HOW PEOPLE TAKE ON 7
MORE RESPONSIBILITY AND IF THEIR
CONSTITUENTS ARE OF A MIND, WILL
PROMOTE THEM.
>> IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK AT
ANOTHER OFFICE --
>> JOHN MCCAIN RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT, SHOULD HE RETIRE FROM
THE UNITED STATES SENATE OR CAN
HE ADEQUATELY DO HIS JOB AS
UNITED STATES SENATOR AND RUN?
GEORGE BUSH RAN FOR PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES WHEN HE WAS
THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, RUNNING
FOR REELECTION KNOWING HE WOULD
BE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT TWO
YEARS OUT.
>> CERTAINLY SENATOR CLINTON HAS
NOT CONFIDED IN ME OR MANY
PEOPLE CLOSE TO HER ON WHETHER
OR NOT SHE IS SEEKING THE
PRESIDENT DENSE SIVMENT I THINK
IT WOULD BE AN HONOR FOR NEW
YORKERS IF THERE WAS ENOUGH
SUPPORT AND SHE DECIDED TO RUN.
THAT'S NEITHER HERE NOR THERE.
SHE IS RUN FOTH UNITED STATES
SENATE.
FRANKLY, THE POLLS IN NEW YORK
INDICATE PEOPLE DON'T CARE.
I THINK WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WOULD SUPPORT HER AS PRESIDENT
IS SOMETHING WE'LL FIND OUT IF
SHE CHOOSES TO RUN, BUT RIGHT
NOW, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY
QUESTION IN VIRTUALLY ANYONE'S
MIND, CERTAINLY IN THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND POLLS
SUGGEST ACROSS THE STATE THAT,
HILLARY CLINTON WILL BE A FAR
BETTER UNITED STATES SENATOR
THAN JANINE PIRRO WOULD BE.
THAT IS REALLY THE ISSUE THAT
WHETHER BE IN FRONT OF VOTERS IN
2006.
I'M CONFIDENT, AGAIN, THAT
HILLARY CLINTON -- I GUESSLY
HAVE TO BE HERE IN A YEAR AND
COUPLE MONTHS TO TALK ABOUT HER 8
SECOND TERM.
>> YOU ARE MAKING A SECOND
PREDICTION?
>> A SECOND PREDICTION.
SPITZER WILL BE THE GOVERNOR AND
HILLARY WILL BE A UNITED STATES
SENATOR.
>> I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY ASK
YOU ABOUT THE THE STATE SENATE.
THERE IS TALK THAT THE DEMOCRATS
MIGHT HAVE A SHOT AT IT THIS
TIME.
ISN'T THAT ROLE THE KIND OF
PUBLIC IMAGE THAT PUBLIC
DEMOCRATS WILL BE AIMING FOR.
>> ARE YOU AIMING FOR A JOE
ROBOT?
>> JOE ROBOT IS THE KIND THAT
SHOULD BE COMING BACK TO THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
>> WHICH ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN?
>> I DARE SAY I WOULDN'T MAKE
THAT PREDICTION.
>> SOJO WON'T BE GETTING IT,
OKAY.
>> I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
SEATS WHERE THERE ARE VERY VERY
MARGINAL INCUMBENTS IN THE STATE
SENATE PRIMARILY IN THE
DOWNSTATE AREA AND LONG ISLAND
REGION.
I THINK THAT'S THE WHERE THE
FOCUS OF STATE SENATOR IS GOING
TO BE.
JOE ROBOT AND I HAVE WORKED
TOGETHER WHEN I WAS A DEMOCRAT
AND HE WAS A REPUBLICAN.
STATE PARTY IS UNIMPORTANT TO
JOE.
JOE WAS TRYING TO DO THE JOB AS
BEST HE CAN. 9
MY HOPE IS WHEN THE SENATE
DEMOCRATS TAKE OVER THE SENATE
MAJORITY THAT JOE WILL COME BACK
TO THE DEX CRATIC PARTY.
>> BOB DUFFY IS THE DEMOCRATIC^
PARTY'S PERSON WHO RUNS FOR
MAYOR.
WHAT I WANT TO ASK IS HE'S GOING
TO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO DEAL
WITH IF HE BECOMES MAYOR.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO ASK
YOU DOES HIS JOB NEED TO BE
KNITTING THIS PARTY BACK
TOGETHER.
I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO ARGUE IT
DOESN'T NEED A LOT OF KNITTING
BUT CERTAINLY THERE HAS TO BE
BRINGING TOGETHER OF THE PARTY
WITHIN HIS JOB.
>> IT IS EVERYONE'S
RESPONSIBILITY.
BOB HAS EXPRESSED TO ME ON A
ENOUGH NUMBER OF OCCASIONS HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS THAT THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY COME TOGETHER
AND GROW AND BE UNIFIED.
HE SHARES MY VIEW ON THIS,
ABSOLUTELY TOLL A T.
WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER MANY, MANY
TIMES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.
I'M VERY EXCITED.
HE HAS BEEN TERRIFIC, BUT VERY
GRACIOUS AND OFFERED TREMENDOUS
SUPPORT TO THE PARTY AND IT'S
GOING TO PROVIDE BENEFITS NOT
ONLY TO THE CITY OF ROCHESTER,
BUT TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
>> JOE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE
WITH US.
WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR COMMENTS ON
THIS INTERVIEW AND THIS PROGRAM.
YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF WAYS TO
REACH US.
GET US BY E-MAIL OR YOU CAN CALL
OUR RESPONSE LINE AT 258-0250,
AND LET US KNOW IF YOU WE CAN
USE YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR NAME
ON A FUTURE BROADCAST. 10
THIS WEEK ON PBS AND WXXI, WE
AIR ADD PROGRAM CALLED MAKING
SCHOOLS WORK, TALKING ABOUT HOW
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE
COUNTRY ARE TRYING TO IMPROVE
CLASSROOM PERFORMANCE.
ONE DISTRICT IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH
CAROLINA TALKED ABOUT KEEPING
PROGRESS REPORTS ON A CHILD'S
DATA.
DATA MEANS TESTING.
FOR MANY, THIS IS A YEAR OF
TESTING LIKE NO OTHER.
JULIE PHILIPP GIVES US THIS
REPORT.
>> THIS YEAR AS STATED CATION
OFFICIALS MOVE TO COMPLY WITH
THE FEDERAL NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
ACT, THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING MORE
STANDARDIZED TESTS THAN EVER
BEFORE, BEGINNING IN THIRD
GRADE.
THE STAKES ARE GETTING HIGHER,
TOO.
STUDENTS NEED TO GET BETTER
GRADES ON THESE TESTS TO PASS,
AND IF THEY DON'T, THE SCHOOLS
THEY ATTEND STAND TO LOSE
FEDERAL FUNDING.
ONE ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL IS
EXEMPT FROM ALL THAT -- SORT OF.
THIS SUMMER, SCHOOL WITHOUT
WALLS RECEIVED A PARTIAL WAIVER
FOR MOST STATE TESTS THROUGH THE
YEAR 2010, BUT THE HEAD OF THAT
SCHOOL SAYS THAT'S NOT GOOD
ENOUGH, AND HE IS A GROWING
NUMBER OF EDUCATORS AGREE.
>> THE MIDDLE SCHOOL I WENT TO,
I WAS ADVANCED PLACEMENT, THAT
KIND OF THING.
THEY WERE ALL PUSHING FOR THE
I.B. PROGRAM, OR SCHOOL OF THE
ARTS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ALWAYS PUSH.
FOR.
>> LAST YEAR WHEN CASEY LEFT 11
MIDDLE SCHOOL, HE DECIDED TO GO
TO SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS INSTEAD.
CASEY, WHO IS ONLY 14, SAYS HE
MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE.
>> I REMEMBER THINKING, I WONDER
IF THOSE KIDS AT THE I.B.
PROGRAM, ARE THEY GOING TO BE A
STEP AHEAD OF ME?
ARE THEY GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING
THAT I DON'T?
AS THE YEAR WENT ON, I STARTED
TO REALIZE THAY WOULD GO THREE
TO FOUR WEEKS WITHOUT SEEING ANY
OF MY FRIENDS FROM MIDDLE SCHOOL
AND I WOULD TALK TO THEM AGAIN
AND I WOULD FIND I HAVE A LOT
MORE TO TALK ABOUT WITH WHAT I
WAS LEARNING.
IT WAS MUCH MORE INTERESTING.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT IS
IMPORTANT.
>> SCHOOL WITHOUT WALLS IS ONE
OF A HANDFUL OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
IN NEW YORK THAT DON'T FOLLOW
THE STATE'S STANDARDIZED
CURRICULUMS AND TESTING
PROGRAMS.
IT'S A FORM LALL THAT SEEMS TO
WORK FOR THEIR STUDENTS.
17-YEAR-OLD JORDAN TRANSFERRED
HERE FROM WILSON HIGH SCHOOL TWO
YEARS AGO.
>> EVERYONE HAS PERSONALITY
HERE.
THERE IS DEFINITELY CHARACTER
HERE.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE THE SAME
MIND THINKING THAT WE LIKE TO
APPROACH SUBJECTS OURSELVES WITH
OUR OWN PERSONALITY, AND THEN
THAT'S HOW WE ATTACK THINGS,
LIKE WE ATTACK THINGS BEING
OURSELVES.
I'M JORDAN.
WHEN I SIT DOWN AND EXPLAIN TO
THE CLASS AND LOOK AT IT AS THE
TRUTH AND LOOK AT PHILOSOPHY,
JOURNALISM AND RELIGION, MY 12
PERSONAL OPINIONS HELP ME IN
THAT COURSE.
IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE ROBOTIC.
I HATE TO SAY THAT, BUT IN THE
WAY THEY THOUGHT WHEN I WAS AT
WILSON, JUST BECAUSE EVERYONE
WAS FOCUSED ON PASSING THIS
TEST.
>> KIDS LIKE JORDAN AND CASEY
ARE THE KIND OF KIDS PRINCIPAL
DANDER MA SICH SUBPOENA
CRUSADING FOR.
FOR YEARS, HE AND OFFICIALS FROM
27 ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN
BATTLING THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL
APPROACH BY TOP EDUCATION
OFFICIALS.
>> WHY HAVEN'T OTHER SCHOOLS
CAUGHT ON?
WELL, NUMBER ONE, AS LONG AS YOU
HAVE SOMEONE MAKING TOP DOWN
DECISIONS TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO
AND HOW TO DO, IT'S KIND OF HARD
TO FIGHT.
THAT.
>> BUT HE THINKS THE TIDE IS
TURNING AS MORE AND MORE
EDUCATORS, LAWMAKERS AND OTHERS
REGISTER THEIR DISCONTENT WITH
THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT AND
STANDARDIZED TESTS LIKE THE NEW
YORK REGENT EXAMS.
DRMACICH IS SUGGESTING AN
ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTION, ONE THAT
THROWS MULTIPLE CHOICE ANSWERS
OUT THE WINDOW IN FAVOR OF IN
DEPTH RESEARCH, CRITICAL
ANALYSIS AND CREATIVE PROBLEM
SOLVING.
>> BUT IT WOULD BE UP TO THE
SCHOOL BOARD AND OF THE 700-ODD
SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE IN
NEW YORK STATE TO MAKE THAT
DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
THEY WANTED TO ALLOW SOME
SCHOOLS OR SOME STUDENTS TO BE 13
ABLE TO TAKE THIS EXAM, AND IT'S
REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THIS WOULDN'T BE AN EXAM THAT
WOULD BE OF LOWER STANDARDS T
WOULD EXCEED REGENT STANDARDS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE LOOK AT
AMERICAN HISTORY RIGHT NOW,
BASICALLY, WHAT YOU'RE TESTING
KIDS FOR IS INFORMATION A MILE
WIDE AND AN INCH DEEP.
IT DOESN'T SHOW THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND IT ON AND IN-DEPTH
LEVEL.
WHAT WE'RE AFTER WITHIN THE
CONSORTIUM IS TO GET KIDS TO
THINK AS A HISTORIAN WOULD.
REGARDLESS OF THE EVENT, DO YOU
KNOW HOW TO ANALYZE THIS EVENT?
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO TEAR IT APART
SO YOU ARE THINKING CRITICALLY
ABOUT IT, AND YOU CAN APPLY IT
TO YOUR OWN LIFE?
>> IT IS NOT ENOUGH, DRMACICH
SAYS, TO MAKE SURE HIS KIDS ARE
AN EXCEPTION TO STATE AND
FEDERAL EDUCATION POLICY.
^.
>> WHEN YOU THINK OF THE
SKYROCKETING DROPOUT RATE, THE
NUMBER OF KIDS WHO ARE UNHAPPY
WITH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEIR NEEDS
AND THEIR INTERESTS AREN'T BEING
MET, THAT'S WHAT THIS BECOMES
ABOUT.
WE'VE GOT TO DO THIS FOR ALL
KIDS, NOT JUST AT SCHOOLS
WITHOUT WALLS.
>> NOW THAT WE CONCENTRATE MORE
WITH STANDARDIZED TESTING IS THE
PRESIDENT OF THE MONROE COUNTY
SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.
THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.
LET'S ME START BY GIVING.
>> QUOTE FROM BOB FLAVIN, A
FOUNDER OF A PRESCRIBED METHOD
OF READING SCHOOLS.
HE SAYS PEOPLE WATCH THEIR
QUARTERLY RESULTS TO SEE IF WHAT
THEY ARE DOING MAKES SENSE. 14
VISIONS, WATCH OIT VITAL SIGNS,
SO FORTH, AND SEE IF THEIR
METRICS ARE WORKING.
EDUCATION MUST DO THE SAME.
TESTING DOESN'T.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT I
AGREE WITH HIM IN SOME WAYS, BUT
PERHAPS NOT WITH HIS ULTIMATE
MEANING.
OF COURSE, EDUCATORS NEED TO
WATCH THE VITAL SIGNS OF
EDUCATION.
YOU NEED TO LOOK AT EACH CHILD
AND SEE HOW THEY'RE DOING.
AN ASSESSMENT IS A CRITICAL PART
OF THAT, BUT THE NATURE OF THE
ASSESSMENTS, AND HOW THEY'RE
USED IS THE MATTER THAT HAS
BECOME THE CONTROVERSIAL PART IN
THE STANDARDIZED TESTING TODAY.
>> AND I WILL GO BACK A LITTLE
BIT HISTORICALLY AND TALK ABOUT
NEW YORK STATE, BUT THE
COMPLAINT IS THAT KIDS COME OUT
OF THESE SCHOOLS AND THEY ARE
NOT READY, AND WE ARE ESPECIALLY
TALKING ROCHESTER, YONKERS,.
THEY ARE NOT READY, NOT
PREPARED.
THESE TESTS COME OUT AND THEY
NEED TO KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO
KNOW.
WE NEED TO STEP UP THE TESTS.
>> DEPENDS ON THE INFORMATION
YOU GET FROM THE TESTS F ALL YOU
ARE DOING IS CONCENTRATING ON
TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO TAKE
TESTS, DOES THAT RELATE TO THE
BUSINESS SKILLS THEY'RE GOING TO
NEED IN THE REAL WORLD.
LET ME GO BACK TO MR. FLAVIN'S
BUSINESS COMMENT.
HE SAYS BUSINESSPEOPLE LOOK AT
THE QUARTERLY RETURNS.
THE QUARTERLY RETURNS ONLY HELP
FOR A FEW MONTHS.
BUSINESSPEOPLE NEED TO LOOK AT
THE LONG-TERM ECONOMY WHEN THEY 15
ARE PLANNING.
SCHOOLS NEED TO LOOK AT THE
COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD
AND WHAT INFORMATION THEY NEED
FROM CHILDREN TOLL BEST GUIDE
THEIR LEARNING SO THAT THEY WILL
BE SUCCESSFUL, AND SO THAT THEY
WILL THRIVE IN AN ACADEMIC
ENVIRONMENT, AND LATER IN THEIR
LIVES.
>> THE NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION
COMMISSIONER HAS REALLY EXPANDED
THE REGION'S TESTING, AND
CRITICS HAVE SAID JUST WHAT YOU
SAID, THAT IT FORCES CHILDREN TO
MEMORIZE, AND THEY JUST LEARN
FOR THE TEST.
HE SAYS THAT, IN FACT, THOUGH,
TESTS ARE BETTER AT FOCUSING ON
APPLIED SKILLS, IF THAT'S THE
RIGHT WAY TO SAY THAT -- APPLIED
SKILLS.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE.
>> IT IS TRUE?
>> AND YOU NEED PEOPLE WITH GOOD
APPLIED SKILLS, BUT YOU WLS NEED
PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEVELOPED THEIR
CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS, THEIR
IMAGINATIONS, AND THEIR
UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR LIFE AS
CITIZENS IN A DEMOCRACY.
SCHOOLS ARE INVOLVED IN A
MULTIFACETED PROGRAM, AND THE
ISSUE THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE WITH
TESTS IS THAT THE TESTS, THE
FEDERAL TESTS, THE ONES YOU TAKE
TO MEET THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
RIEMENTS ONLY FOCUS ON READING
AND MATH, AND TO MEET THOSE
REQUIREMENTS, OTHER THINGS ARE
BEING LEFT ASIDE.
THERE IS AN INTERESTING
SITUATION IN NEW YORK STATE,
BECAUSE NEW YORK STATE DEVELOPS
STATE STANDARDS BEFORE THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WROTE THE NO 16
CHILD LEFT BEHIND LAW.
NEW YORK STATE STANDARDS ARE
DIFFERENT FROM EVERY OTHER
STATE'S.
THEY ARE VERY BROAD.
THEY ARE VERY DEEP.
STUDENTS HAVE TO BE TESTED IN
FIVE DIFFERENT CURRICULAR AREAS
AS THEY ARE GROWING UP, NOT JUST
IN READING AND MATH.
ALL THE OTHER STATES ARE JUST
READING AND MATH.
NEW YORK'S STATE SYSTEM IS
DESIGNED SO THAT WHEN STUDENTS
DON'T DO WELL WHEN PROBLEMS ARE
IDENTIFIED BY THE TESTS, SUPPORT
SYSTEMS COME IN TO PLACE TO HELP
THE STUDENT IMPROVE.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND
THE NEW TESTS THAT ARE BEING
ADDED BECAUSE OF NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND ARE THAT THE FEDERAL
PROGRAM PUNISHES SCHOOLS WHEN
THEY DON'T REACH THE LEVELS THAT
THEY SAY YOU SHOULD REACH, AND
THAT'S REALLY THE CRUX OF THE
PROBLEM.
>> DOES THE PUNISHMENT MANIFEST
ITSELF?
FRANKLY, I'M ASKING YOU, ARE
THERE TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS OUT
THERE WHO WILL TRY AND HELP THE
KIDS OUT BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE,
PERHAPS EVEN SKIRTING SOME OF
THE RULES OR HELPING OUT DURING
THE DAY OF TESTING TO GET THE
RESULTS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO
PUNISH THEIR SCHOOL?
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING
QUESTION.
IT'S A TERRIBLE THOUGHT TO THINK
THAT ANYONE WOULD BEHAVE IN A
WAY THAT --
>> BUT DOES IT HAPPEN?
>> IT HAPPENS, BUT IN STATES
LIKE TEXAS, WHERE THEY HAVE THE
SYSTEM THAT NO CHILD WAS LEFT 17
BEHIND, UPON WHICH NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND IS WAS MODELED, WE ARE
VEING A GREAT DEAL OF LACK OF
INTEGRITY IN THE SYSTEM TO MEET
THE REQUIREMENTS.
OBVIOUSLY, ONE DOESN'T WANT TO
DO THAT.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO GET
CHILDREN EDUCATED, NOT TO GO
AROUND PUNISHING ADULTS.
YOU SHOULDN'T CREATE A SITUATION
WHERE SOMEHOW THE END GOAL IS SO
SEPARATED FROM THE PURPOSE.
>> LET'S SEE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR GIVING
US A BRIEF GLIMPSE INTO THE
TEST, AND I THINK WE ARE GOING
TO BE DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE ON
THIS, ESPECIALLY IN THE NEXT
COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE ARE GOING TO BE REPORTING ON
BY THE PEOPLE, AND YOU WILL BE
ON THE PANEL WITH THE BY THE
PEOPLE EFFORT ON EDUCATION.
NOW LET'S MOVE TO THE BUSINESS
SECTION WITH THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE.
JOINING US IS ELLEN ROSEN,
BUSINESS EDITOR FOR THE DEMOCRAT
AND CHRONICLE.
HI, ELLEN.
>> HI, JULIE.
>> STARTING OUT, MICHAEL FINNEY
ANNOUNCED HE IS STEPPING DOWN.
LET'S TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT
THAT ORGANIZATION S.
>> THAT ORGANIZATION IS A
PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY FUNDED
ORGANIZATION WHICH IS REALLY
CHARGED WITH SPARKING ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
>> IT IS REALLY KIND OF SEEN AS
A WAY TO COORDINATE EFFORTS.
THE COUNTY WAS DOING IT AND THE
CITY WAS DOING.
OUGHT ORIGINAL INTENT OF G.R.E. 18
WAS TO HAVE A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR
SOMEONE WHO WAS TRYING TO EXPAND
BUSINESS HERE OR LOCATE BUSINESS
HERE.
IT HASN'T DEVELOPED THAT LEVEL
OF COLLABORATION, THE CITY AND
COUNTIES STILL HAVE THEIR OWN
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE IS TALK RIGHT NOW ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO
MORPHGRE TO TAKE IN SOME OF THE
THAT UNDER THE NEW LEADERSHIP.
>> THEY MIGHT CHAIN THE
ORGANIZATION BECAUSE FINNEY IS
LEAF LEAVING NOW?
>> THIS IS SOMETHING FINNEY
WOULD HAVE WANTED TO DO HIMSELF
BUT IT HASN'T HAPPENED SO FAR,
BUT I THINK WITH HIS LEAVING,
SOME PEOPLE WILL TRY TO PUSH TO
HAVE COLLABORATION.
>> IS THERE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR
CRITICISMS?
>> BASICALLY HE HAS JUMP ADD LOT
OF THINS HERE.
THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THIS BIG
VENTURE CAPITAL CONVENTION THAT
THEY'RE BRINGING HERE.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME BUSINESSES
THAT HAVE OPENED HERE.
SURE, WE HAVE HAD DOWNTURNS BUT
THEY CAN'T BE BLAMED FOR THE
CLOSING OF CHASE PITKIN OR EAST
MAN KODAK.
THE POINT IS TO PUT ROCHESTER
FOR PEOPLE TO RELOCATE CMS.
>> DO YOU THINK SOME OF THESE
DOWNTURNS MAY HAVE PLAYED A PART
IN HIS DECISION TO GO SOMEWHERE
ELSE AND DOT SAME THING?
>> HE IS RETURNING TO HIS ROOTS,
TO MICHIGAN, WHERE HE SPENT HIS
ENTIRE CAREER BEFORE HE CAME
HERE. 19
HE SAID HE IS MOVING TO BE
CLOSER TO FAMILY.
HE HAS A WIFE AND THREE KIDS.
HE HAYES SAYS THE MOVE IS A
RETURN TO FAMILY.
HE IS GOING TO BE WEARING TWO
HATS.
HE WILL BE RUNNING A PUBLICLY
FUNDED ORGANIZATION AND A
PRIVATELY FUNDED ORGANIZATION
OUT OF ANN ARBOR T IS A KIND OF
A DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITY AND HE
SAID THAT WAS ATTRACTIVE, ALSO.
>> WELEMAN'S ANNOUNCED IT IS
GETTING OUT OF THE HARDWARE
BUSINESS.
>> THEY CAN NO LONGER -- CHASE
PITKIN CAN NO LONGER COMPETE
WITH LOWES AND SOME OF THE OTHER
COMPANIES, HOME DEPOT.
THEY ARE BASICALLY SAYING THEY
ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF THAT
BUSINESS AND FOCUS ON THE FOOD
INDUSTRY, WHICH THEY HAVE
OBVIOUSLY HAD GREAT SUCCESS
WITH.
>> IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT
THEY ARE ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM
IN THE GROCERY INDUSTRY AND THIS
IS A WAY TO FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WEGEMAN'S IS VERY SMART
BUSINESSPEOPLE.
THEY DECIDED WHEN YOU HAVE A
LARGE COMPANY LIKE HOME DEPOT OR
LOWES, YOU CAN BUY IN LARGE
QUANTITIES.
YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF STORES.
IT WAS GETTING IMPOSSIBLE FOR
CHASE PITKIN TO COMPETE AGAIN
THAT.
THEY BASICALLY DECIDED THEY ARE
NOT GOING TO TRY AND THEY'RE
GOING TO FOCUS ON THE GROCERY
BUSINESS.
THEY ARE HAVING GREAT SUCCESS.
THEY OPENED THEIR 69TH STORE 20
DOWN IN MARYLAND, AND IT WAS ONE
OF THEIR BEST OPENINGS YET.
>> CONCENTRATE ON WHAT THEY DO
BEST.
>> YES.
>> ANOTHER PROBLEM AREA, DELPHI
IS HAVING TROUBLE.
>> DELPHI HAS BEEN IN TROUBLE
FOR A WHILE.
THEY ARE TRYING TO GET A
CONCESSION FROM THEIR UNION
WORKERS.
>> 1,300 UNION WORK SNERZ.
>> 1,800 UNION WORKERS HERE.
2,200 TOTAL AND 1800 UNIONIZED.
DELPHI NEEDS TO RESTRUCTURE AND
BRING THEIR COSTS DOWN.
THEY ARE TRYING TO STRUCK A DEAL
WITH G.M..
THE STIFFER BANKRUPTCY LAWS GO
INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 17.
THE HEAD OF DELPHI SAID IF THEY
CAN'T GET CONCESSIONS THEY WILL
CONSIDER FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY.
>> ONE BIT OF GOOD NEWS,
BRIEFLY, A NEW COMPANY OPENING
UP.
>> PRECISION OPTICS ANNOUNCED
THEY WILL BE OPENING HERE, AND
THEY WILL BE DOING PRECISION
GRINDING FOR HEALTHCARE
INDUSTRY, DEFENSE AND PRIVATE
AND COMMERCIAL IMAGING.
>> THANKS SO MUCH, ELLEN.
>> WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOU
THINK OF THE VIEWS HEARD ON THIS
PROGRAM.
YOU HAVE TWO WAYS TO DO.
THAT E MAIL MAIL US AT "NEED TO
KNOW" OR CALL OUR RESPONSE LINE.
>> THAT'S OUR REPORT.
NEXT WEEK, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE
CREATING VIOLENCE AND WE GIVE
YOU AN HOUR SPECIAL WHERE WE
DISCUSS IN REAL AND FRANK TERMS
WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE WITH YOUTH 21
AND VIOLENCE.
TUNE IN THEN.
CAPTIONED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE
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