Articles from PIE's past Media Watch are maintained via this page. These PIE articles are listed in chronological order.
A recent Letter to the Editor raises this issue under the guise of "Reverse Discrimination". The letter which appeared in The Rockland Journal News on March 15, 2000 asks if the district now has to seek the approval of Daniel Wolff (PIE member) for every meeting agenda, every vote taken and every new appointment in the district.
We'd like to point out to the writer that the Board and the District, as a public body, DOES have to be accountable to everyone in the district for its hiring policy. An independent consultant, hired by the district against PIE's recommendation, an 80 member community Task Force and the U.S. Justice Department are all concerned about hiring in Nyack. In the face of all of this pressure, the Administration makes no effort to seek out minorities for a new position. What does that tell the community and the world about the Administration's regard for their opinions?
In a veiled letter of support for the Nyack School District, 350 residents signed a letter which appeared in the Rockland Journal News on March 21, 2000. The letter characterized PIE's proposed one week experiment of NOT Helping with Your Child's Homework as "absurd". We stand by the experiment and believe that it would be very instructive. Are parents doing homework or are children? Shouldn't teachers want to know this?
The letter further refers to The Achievement Gap as a national problem. That seems clear. However, shouldn't leadership be about solving the problem not sitting back and accepting it?
The letter then gets to the "bottom line". Taxes. What was not printed in the Journal News were the 350 signatures, many of which had written the words, "no tax" next to their names. Clearly, the motivation here is taxes.
Readers of The Rockland Journal News know that there has been plenty of public discussion of Nyack Schools in the past months. Here is a summary of the coverage in this school year. We encourage you to read the full text of the articles and can supply those if you are unable to locate them.
"Job Search Didn't Target Minorities" 3/14/2000
The issue of Minority outreach is raised as the Administration admits that a new position has been staffed without any effort to locate minority candidates.
"Nyack Teachers Get New Contract" 3/9/2000
To everyone's surprise, the Board ratifies a five year extension of the Teachers Contract at the end of a Board meeting on Full Day Kindergarten.
"Final Report Expected Soon On Nyack Schools" 2/3/2000
Early report on the Task Force Recommendations.
"PIE's Voice Reaches New Public High" 1/17/2000
An historical profile of PIE.
"Nyack School District Draws New Attack" 1/4/2000
PIE and the NAACP provide an update on the District's responsiveness to Task Force requests. The update was provided as part of a five page report to the Justice Department.
"Justice Department Mediates School Bias Case" 11/9/99
The Justice Department enters the picture and agrees to mediate the discussion on racial issues in Nyack.
"Nyack Schools Task Force To Detail Priorities" 11/5/99
Report on the Task Force.
"Nyack Public Schools Confront Racial Issues" 10/16/99
A lengthy discussion of the public meeting held on the Tulin Report and the community reaction.
"Nyack School Panel Vows To Address Race Disparities" 10/15/99
Formation of the Task Force is discussed.
"Nyack To Discuss Bias Report" 10/13/99
Public discussion of the Tulin Report.
"Parents, Educators Urged To Listen To Each Other" 10/7/99
Further discussion of The Tulin Report and reaction to it.
"Nyack District Releases Report On Inequalities" 10/6/99
Less than 24 hours after voting to delay release of the Tulin Report, the Nyack Board of Education distributes the document. Details of the report presented.
"Nyack Schools To Wait To Release Consultants Report" 10/5/99
The Nyack District attempts to hold up the release of it's diversity consultant, David Tulin.
"Federal Assistance Sought on Nyack School Policies" 9/29/99
A detailed discussion of the federal complaint being filed by the NAACP.
"NAACP Leader Preparing Complaint" 9/25/99
Announced the plans of Harold Ramsey, mid-Hudson Regional Director of the NAACP, to file a complaint with the U.S. Justice Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. The complaint will accuse Nyack Public Schools of failing to provide an equal opportunity education to black students.
