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>BOE President Bombace Stumbles by Declaring NJ State Education Standards Good Enough for Ridgewood
>Now we know what he really thinks. In an effort to shift blame for the poor math programs in two Ridgewood elementary schools (Travell & Orchard) Bombace lays an egg. Defending TERC, which is currently under assault by parents and esteemed math professors from Stanford, Harvard and New York Universities, Mark Bombace declared at last night’s BOE meeting that the Board’s job is to “play the game” and meet the NJ standards for educational achievement. He added that the current math program, a/k/a “Investigations in Number Data and Space,” helps students meet these standards according to the data he has seen. Mr. Bombace, what planet are you living on? What school district do you currently preside over? What are you thinking? Does your lack of a college degree excuse this inexcusable low balling of the goals for Ridgewood students?
About those NJ Standards: The HSPA (High School Proficiency Assessment), given to 12th Graders in NJ as a graduation test, is a test of 8TH GRADE SKILLS. This is widely known and admitted to by no less than NJ’s Education Commissioner Lucille Davy. So, to graduate in NJ, you need to have an 8th grade education to have achieved the NJ proficiency standard. Mr. Bombace are you still with us? One could easily extrapolate to surmise that this 4-year gap does not magically happen between 10th, 11th and 12th grade, but is a gradual lessening of proficiency throughout K-12 schooling as REQUIRED of the lowly NJ State standards. So, in New Jersey, an 8th grader could be expected to be, say, two, three or four years behind and still meet the NJ Standards. That 8th grader could be competently completing 5th grade work, and NJ would smile on him, as would Mr. Bombace.
Math professors have assailed TERC as leaving 5th graders two years behind in math competency. But Bombace is perfectly alright with this because a 5th grader in Ridgewood educated with TERC who is two years behind still meets the NJ State Standards. In Bombace’s world, “Are we smarter than a fifth grader” is more than just a clever TV show.
It’s true that, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” that is, of course, unless you never really had a competent one in the first place
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This entry was posted by admin on June 5, 2007 at 6:42 am, and is filed under Uncategorized. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.
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#2 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>If you are an idiot and you don’t know it then you are dangerous. If you do know it and you conduct yourself accordingly, then people will find a way to accept you. In the public arena one must depend on the kindness of strangers, but if you become dangerous to the body politic, you will be toast.
Mr. Bombace, if it is true that you do not have a college degree, you should recognize your limitations and shape your imput to furthering, rather than hindering, this math debate.
Up to this point, your comments make you appear to be a donkey.
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#3 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Message to Bombace and company:
It is the simple fact that TERC is a low threshold math program. High performers are held back by TERC and average students are not given the tools to become better than average. It’s that simple.
It is liked by math educators because it is easy to teach and it is easy to “train” just about any average teacher to teach it. That is the fundamental problem with reformed math. Good teachers have to “supplement” the hell out of it for any hope of educating a math student with potential for higher learning.
TERC is fine if all you want to be when you grow up is a math teacher; it’s deadly if you want the solid skills to engage in higher mathematics and get a job with, say, Google or Microsoft, or be an engineer at MIT.
Parents do not understand why the State’s low bar is adequate for our board of education, especially when we are a high performing district with highly educated parents and students. Could it be that we are stuck with low-performing board members, led by an even lower-performing president?
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#4 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Reaction from a taxpayer on last night’s meeting:
“Botsford had been put on a shorter leash. She can’t speak without running it by the board first.”
“Meanwhile, I said this a month ago, and I’ll say it again: when it topples, it will topple fast, and no one on the outside will know for sure what happened. That’s how these things unfold. It will seem sudden.”
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#5 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
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#6 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
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#7 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>The tone and tenor of the discussion is an issue. There is a way, in civil society, to have debate without vitriol. Many of these comments attack the man (or woman) on a personal level. Remember, Bombace and every member of the Board have stepped up to serve the Village. I haven’t done that, you haven’t done that, and certainly all of the gumflappers on this blog haven’t done that either. BE NICE!
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#9 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>As I understand it, from Mark’s own mouth, he is in fact a memeber of the curriculum committee. If he no longer serves in such a capacity, it is a recent development.
He did however, serve on the committee while TERC and Everyday Math were being implemented in our district.
As for Lincoln… differant time in our history. He was self-educated and became a lawyer. Mr. Bombace has yet to display the eloquent manner of writing and speaking that Lincoln possessed.
It is hard to equate Mr. Bombace with Mr. Lincoln
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#10 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
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#11 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Well, well, well, haven’t all of you “educated” and by that I mean College Educated posters exposed yourselves and shown you can stoop to a new low.
This all actually would be funny if your posts weren’t so mean spirited and crude.
However, by your comments it is obvious you all consider yourselves better than those who may not have have a college education! What a narrow, sanctimonious and self centered group you are….a college education is the the end all to be all.
Many individuals have accomplished so many things without the benefit of a College Education, but for you elitest snobs to admit that it would deminish your stature of having attended and completed College.
What’s next, maybe you can attack someone who has some physical limitations to help you feel better about yourselves!
Your friendly Village Idiot
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#12 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Whatever TERC’s shortcomings, it is odd that in the two elementary schools at issue, one is on the high end of Village math performance, while the other is at the bottom. Clearly there is a mitigating factor somewhere in this equation which critics of TERC are missing.
I would agree with those commenters who smell a whiff of elitism in PJ’s diatribe against Mr. Bombace – a public servant not only in his Board capacity but as a long serving Village fireman. Our nation is one of democracy, opportunity, and achievement. There are no qualifications for public office other than the consent of the voters, which Mr. Bombace has now received twice over. If indeed PJ and others believe Mr. Bombace to not be suitable, I suggest participating in our democracy in the same fashion Mr. Bombace has – by running for office and publicly asking for voter support. It is a large leap between criticizing policy via a blog and actually putting yourself in the public sphere to be subjected to the elitism displayed here.
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#13 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>A college education is not essential to a debate about what color to paint your house, but it is essential to a debate about education curriculum. It is not a “personal attack” to state the truth of one’s limitations; that person is free to respond and justify why those limitations may deserve to be overlooked. It’s called a free exchange of opinion.
Remember, the truth will set you free. Those in the public arena have willingly chosen to expose themselves to criticism or praise from the public. They should have a thick enough skin to function in that capacity.
But then, that may also require a certain degree of education to achieve. School is government and when a government official chooses to place unacceptable limits on the governed, the governed must speak up or simply accept their faith.
Board members want both to rule and have the luxury of being free of disagreement or criticism. They are quick to whine that any disagreement is “hostile” or “unfair.” The Communists had a way of dealing with criticism: They banned it and killed anyone who dared to criticize. They killed the “elite” regardless of whether they critized or not, for the very fear of their learning. Pol Pot killed anyone who wore glasses, assuming that such a person was literate and therefore dangerous to his authoritarian rule.
To rule justly and with honor, criticism must not only be tolerated, it must be embraced and respected.
That, too, is a characteristic of higher learning.
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#14 written by John Adams 5 years ago
>Village Idiot,
We seem to have struck a nerve with you over Mr. Bombace’s lack of higher learning. Surely it goes to the heart of educating our children.
The trustees of the BOE are there to represent us not the hired employees of the district. The fact that Mr. Bombace and company have not done their homework, seem to be ignorant of the history of TERC and Constructivist math programs, goes to the heart of being educated.
One can go to college and be schooled or one can become educated. To receive an education is to learn ho to learn. A tool and dye maker can be schooled. Critical thinking on the other hand come from the desire to learn.
So far we have not seen this desire from Mr. Bombace, Vallerini, Hutton or Ms. Brogen.
What we get is platitudes from political hacks about needing to “set-up” committees to discuss the issue.
If a little due dilagence where done by the BOE, as the parests have doen, they wouldn’t be so defensive about a subject where they are relying on the expertise of educacrats in our employ.
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#16 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>To Anonymous who posted his thoughts at 11:48 AM
You stated, and I quote “A college education is not essential to a debate about what color to paint your house, but it is essential to a debate about education curriculum.”
So let me see if I understand you, based on your statement above you would prevent any tax paying citizen of the Village of Ridgewood who does not have a College Education from voicing their opinion about the schools education curriculum to the members of the Board of Education. I find your comment irresponsible and I am very offended by your statement!
Yes, the truth will set you free. While it is true that elected officials in the public arena have willingly chosen to expose themselves to criticism or praise from the public they should not be personally attacked. I respectfully disagree with you, having a thick skin requires zero education.
What does require an education is the ability to present a cogent, reasonable and persuasive argument and possessing the ability to accept someone else’s opinion without resorting to name calling (which I left back in the 4th grade) Apparently your education and the education of others here have failed in that regard! Name calling is the norm here, hence my adopted name of the Village Idiot.
Maybe we need some of the College graduates here to return to the classroom for some refresher courses in human decency.
Your friendly Village Idiot
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#18 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
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#19 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Whatever TERC’s shortcomings, it is odd that in the two elementary schools at issue, one is on the high end of Village math performance, while the other is at the bottom. Clearly there is a mitigating factor somewhere in this equation which critics of TERC are missing.
at Orchard it is bringing the advanced prof scores DOWNWARD
whats missing —
real simple and many parents know it — so do the administrators
quietly and gratefully, teachers use MORE of the old materials than this new TERC stuff in their education toolbox
all you have to do is look through the margins of your child’s homework
you’ll see the publishers markings
Pearson Education 1
Pearson Education 2
“Investigations”thats the TERC garbage
if you see the Houghton Mifflin, Addison Wesley, Saxon markings
thats what the ultra-contructivist himself, Marty Brooks, will want thrown out of the classrooms
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#20 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Village idiot,
Where does anyone call Mr. Bombace names? What is “mean” about questioning his intellectual prowess?
It is a far cry from the nasty bumper stickers I see plastered on the back end of autos questioning the intelligence of our president.
When Mr. Bombace first ran for the BOE, a then and current board member referred to him as, “only a fireman.”
Now, that is mean.
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#21 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>To the Village Idiot –
Any taxpayer may discuss any topic he or she pleases. My reference was within the context of this discussion and applies solely to a person who is president of a board of education and who is engaged in determining the future quality of our children’s math education
Remember this non-college degreed board president has placed his “opinion” above that of several PhD professors of mathematics at some of our most pretigious universities. I think that demands that he make his credentials known to the public.
I’m surprised that you believe that it is “name calling” to say truthfully that someone does not have a college degree. Why, then, is it not name calling to state that they do?
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#22 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Anonymous posted at 1:47 PM
The Village idiot,
Where does anyone call Mr. Bombace names?
Ok, I really can’t believe you asked me this. One only needs to go to the second post on this blog to find the answer. Reference is made to President Bombace as being an idiot, which I object to, (being the one and only Village Idiot) and his comments make him appear to be a donkey, enough said!
Anonymous said… posted at 1:50 PM
To the Village Idiot
We agree then that any taxpayer may discuss any topic he or she pleases without regard to education. Regarding your reference within the context of this discussion, which you say applies solely to President Bombace who is engaged in determining the future quality of our children’s math education. Lets say for a moment the President of the Board of Education had a degree in Engineering, Law, Physical Education, Basket Weaving or a host of other disciplines but he or she did not have a degree in teaching or Math, would their education make them more qualified than President Bombace to make the decisions about the future of our children’s math education? I submit that the answer is no.
Much like any good leader I have to believe that President Bombace is relying on the knowledge and experience of other professionals in making his decisions.
I have taken no position regarding the Board of Educations recommended Math curriculum. I am, however, a believer that education is not like stretch socks, one size does not fit all! Using various teaching methods as determined by the needs of the students makes the most sense.
Is this math program the best or worst for learning? Some of you claim to be experts on the subject, which I find to be a bit over the top after reading some of your comments. I will be the first to admit I do not know enough about it to make an intelligent decision. I would not ask my Attorney to do surgery and I would not rely on my Surgeon for legal advise no matter how well educated they are, and I am certainly not going to rely on residents with questionable educations who wish to dictate to our Professional Educators on how our children should be educated. I will leave that up to the Professionals we have employed to sort that out.
I do know this; I will not sit idly by while a vocal minority uses intimidation or insults in an effort to get their way. If you don’t like the direction the Board of Education is going get yourself elected and change it.
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#24 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
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#25 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Orchard has had TERC in bits and pieces for seven years or so, but Orchard has only had TERC consistently in all grade levels for 3 years.
God bless Bob Muller since he’s mandated that the teacher’s supplement it with old standard curriculum.
Who knows… maybe he hates it and was forced to use it by Dr. Arilotta.
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#26 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>To all who decide they want to read this….. If you think you can do a better job than Mark Bombace with your masters, doctorate, or whatever……please by all means suggest sane solutions to the problems…or run for Board of Ed!!!! He obviously is willing to step up to the plate and serve our Village in the Fire Dept and the Board of Ed regardless of whether he is compensated! So like i said, if you think youre better than him, RUN FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION!!!!!!!!!!!! DON’T JUST SIT ON YOUR FAT YOU KNOW WHAT AND COMPLAIN TILL THE END OF TIME.
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#27 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>”I am certainly not going to rely on residents with questionable educations who wish to dictate to our Professional Educators on how our children should be educated. I will leave that up to the Professionals we have employed to sort that out”
Just doing Investigations Math homework several times with your children more than qualifies parents to know that the program does not meet the needs of children’s math foundations. Comparing test scores and reading the many articles written about the controversy surrounding TERC and other reform math programs should be considered quite enough to question what “the professionals employed” are doing. Following blindly while your children suffer losses in their math education is ridiculous – basically an excuse – I was following orders from the professionals.
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#28 written by wreck the schools wreck the village 5 years ago
>How did this get to be about Mark Bombace ,I thought this was about this stupid TERC math or as PJ called it “Dumb Dumb math”, Again I will remind you we voted for him ,so stop taking and vote him out if you dont like him.
I alomost NEVER agree with the BOE and I think this crew has worked hard to wreck the schools ,wreck the schools wreck the village I say ,but I cant fault Mr Bombace for getting involved and I dont have any hard feelings toward him ,I just dont like there attitudes,or phoilosophy
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#29 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>it got to be about Bombace because a village idiot wants to get everyone off topic
village idiot wants to argue and yell at the messengers rather than taking any time to look at the message
look at the content
TERC is illiterateTERC is damaging
would you want to RISK your child’s education with MATERIALS that are “illiterate” and “damaging”
and if you do any research — Saxon Math, Houghton Mifflin Math, even Singapore Math have not been referenced as “illiterate” and “damaging”
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#30 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>I am tired of hearing people bad mouth good people because of a math program. These people continue to make decisions with one thing in mind…the children. Please do not forget that Mr. Bombace has children in the Ridgewood school system. Don’t you think the decisions he makes regarding the schools will ultimately effect his children as well as yours?
And if you have ever been lucky enough to have experienced Dr. Arilotta or Dr. Mueller you would know they also make decisions solely with the children in mind.
These are good people who are human beings. Try putting yourself in their shoes for a change.
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#33 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
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#34 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>if i was in their shoes i would have put my foot down and said no to any controversial program
end of story
CONTROVERSY
No thank you masters of education.
No thank you phd of education.No thank you to a CONTROVERSY.
One that exsisted with the materials well before they arrived here in Ridgewood – DOA!
log onto the NYTimes — they have been DOCUMENTING TERC for YEARS
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#36 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>I’m glad the debate is back on target about fixing math rather than the educational background of Bombace. The BOE is about representing parents regardless of background – a checks and balances to administration – and providing accountability to what is going on.
The growing petition shows that a sizable number of parents are concerned about math. That alone should be enough to warrant an unbiased look at what is going on, not a defense of something that is not working for numbers of children and is a cause of concern for many.
Education experts – like a superintendent, curriculum supt, are NOT the ones doing homework daily with your children. They are far removed from the frustrations of math homework that has little or no math, little or no practice and the pockets that are paying for Kumon and tutors.
Parents have the most at stake – it’s our kids education and we are ultimately accountable for that if we want them to succeed in life.
Speaking up that math isn’t working is an important first step. However unless BOE admits there is a problem, there will not be progress for the children’s math education.
The video from the recent BOE meeting (cut and paste address to view) has our VP of the Board saying he’s tired of us parents coming to the meetings to talk about the math problem.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=nowthatshockey
That’s too bad. The statement is also unprofessional and unacceptable.
Especially since parents have better things to do than come to BOE meetings to fight about a controversial math program our administrators are in love with and is clearly not working for many children.
This is a call to all parents who signed the petition and others that are concerned that now is the time to come to the BOE and let your voice be heard and your body be seen.
The pressure is working – don’t give it up. Summer is around the corner – keep the heat going at the BOE not just at your BBQs.
Otherwise we are destined to be ignored and dismissed. No matter what college Bombace may or may not have attended.
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#37 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Just to clarify my 5:57 am comment:
The video may make it sound like the BOE wants to understand the problems and take action on math.
But if you listen closely, why is TERC being so royally defended rather than looked at with suspicion?
Isn’t it highly unusual for parents to be so adamantly opposed to something that they create a petition and web-site about an aspect of the curriculum?
Why is the Ridgewood Blog enjoying such popularity and large number of comments when the discussion is about math, constructivism and Dr. Brooks?
Problems were clearly spelled out at meetings by many eloquent speakers. These and many other concerns are readily accessible on the internet – what’s not to understand?
It seems like it’s ok to talk and discuss the math problem, and inviting concerned parents into the group is certainly a nice thing to do, but do you think that Botsford, who will certainly lead the group, can look at things unbiased? Will teachers truly be honest about their opinions of Investigations when their jobs are on the line?
What about the impending arrival of a new constructivist superintendent who, while encouraging debate, has publicly spoken up similarly not willing to admit that Investigations was the problem in his soon-to-be past district?
The deck seems to be stacked against the traditional math parents.
Continue to speak out and don’t allow yourself to be easily placated with empty promises and contradictory statements.
Human nature is about self-presevation and not getting involved. It’s easy to let someone else fight your battles. However, there is safety in numbers. Sign the petition and if you already have, get 10 more signatures for it. Come to a BOE meeting and speak out or just support those brave enough to speak.
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#38 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>5:57
I think you took Vallerini’s comments about not wanting parents to come to the meetings entirely out of context.
He seems to be saying that all of the parent comments demonstrate that there is a problem, and that there should be a more productive forum established for parents and educators to share their views, assess the problem and come up with a solution. I saw his comments as indicating that someone on the Board is finally listening.
Vallerini’s comments stood in stark contrast with Bombace, who said that he has seen nothing suggecting that a change is necessary.
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#40 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>I see your point 8:10am, but Vallerini seems skeptical that there is a problem at all. His comments suggest that he is unsure of the problem while parents have been quite clear as to the problems they are encountering.
What exactly defines a more constructive forum to share views? Will it be characterized by an unbiased approach to exploring math or just be a reiteration of administration in support of TERC and parents against it?
Committees take time.
What happens in the interim? Travell is still stuck with TERC?
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#41 written by John Adams 5 years ago
>To: Anonymous posted at 1:47 PM
Parents are involved and are determined to “change it.”
That is why there is this battle going on. And if you think this is rough and tumble, then you must not be a student of history. This is civil and tame compared to many past political struggles.
After all, we are fighting against an entrenched government bureaucracy and a BOE that defers to it rather than think for itself.
As for being a minority, too bad. It is always a minority that spurs on change.
Oh, I suppose you believe that in 1776 there was majority support for independence from England too. Wrong!!! Those founding fathers, well, they where a minority representing only 1/3 of the population.
I encourage you to read history, it may provide you with a more balanced view of what is actully taking place today.
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#42 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Wholehearted agreement with Anonymous at 5:53pm. Until this group starts to take action in the electoral realm by running for office, I can only imagine that only a minority agrees with them. There were 2 open seats contested in this past election. That’s two opportunities to put words into action. Two opportunities the folks contributing to this blog did not take.
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#43 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>GIVE MARK A BREAK FOR ONCE!!! Between his son in Iraq SERVING OUR COUNTRY, and working aproximately 72 Hours in 5 Days at the Ridgewood Fire Department, he is doing the best he can to keep his head up and sweep away all the crap from everyone who thinks they are better than him with their college degrees. For those who have something to say, grow a pair of you know what and say it by running for office. For those bad mouthing, you should all be ashamed of yourselves. STEP UP, AND SUGGEST SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM RATIONALLY. BADMOUTHING WITH YOUR MASTERS DEGREE WILL GO NOWHERE!
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#45 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Elitist?? It is not elitist to suggest that the people running our educational system, which is primarily college prep oriented, at least have a college degree. They need to have at least some first-hand experience of what it takes to prepare for, get in to, and survive in, college. We don’t live in Abraham Lincoln’s time, when MOST people didn’t go to college or work for corporations. Village Idiot, since you don’t seem to realize the value of a college degree, then please stop by whenever you get sick so that I can charge you the $150 for 15 minutes that docs charge. I don’t have a medical degree, but that shouldn’t bother you. Or are you one of those elitist snobs??
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#46 written by just aother housewife 5 years ago
>So Bombace doesn’t have a college degree and yet is president of the BOE? And that makes him stupid? How about the taxpayers who elected him? Twice, I might add. ……your right noone said voters in new jerky are smart ,as for mark your just nocking your selfs you voted for him dumies …also it dosent take a college degree to know that this TERC thing is a bunch of bull
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#47 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>A careful analysis of Vallerini’s comments reveals he is not really interested in hearing parents, but in doing damage control. He starts off by criticising the residents for leaving before he speaks. Then he pretends parents’ comments have been all over the place, with no clear focus. I have watched parents at these meetings, who have done their homework and are, in fact, quite focused. He then offers a solution, that parents gather together in a different setting (and certainly not BOE meetings) to discuss these complex issues. The BOE likes to create task forces so that embarassing questions are not publicly raised and so the general public has only limited access to info. I, personally, have also seen such a task force used to bully parents. For those of you who would like to give Vallerini the benefit of the doubt, how could you have missed his suggestion that the BOE might be hearing only from parents with “an agenda”? Though he suggests the BOE is hearing only from a vocal minority with a fixed agenda, from what I’ve seen, nothing could be further from the truth. For every parent who dares to speak at the mike and risk being labeled as a troublemaker, there are many more who are silent, fearing retribution directed at their children. Regardless of whether you think Vallerini is well-intentioned, or not, just keep doing what you’re doing: keeping the issues alive at BOE meetings and discussed in an open and public forum.
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#48 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Mark is president of this board of ed. When he said that we meet the nj standards and that was fine, Sheila had to correct him! She had to point out that our standards in Ridgewood were far, far higher.
It’s just scary that Mark doesn’t know this. Did he misspeak? I don’t think so. Meeting NJ standards are fine if you are not going beyond community college. I think his lack of a college degree is partly why he sees things the way he does. That’s not being mean, that’s just what I think. I don’t want my children’s future academically limited by a decision maker whose bar is set so low.
Many, many parents in this village expect that their children will be better educated than our current crop of educational administrators with their very soft education degrees. These degrees do not compare to the rigorous degrees earned by professionals not fed on the “education track” courses.
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#49 written by John Adams 5 years ago
>For all those who say the proponants of Standard Math are not contributing because they will not run for the BOE, I say to you, why should they? Once on the BOE, every person who has been elected in soon “Borged” and assimilated into the dark world of the Educrats, their agenda and lingo. If not, they are defeated in the next election.
Mark started off as a reformer and was un-elected after one term. He soon learned that he had better “play the game” if he wanted to be re-elected.
If one hasn’t noticed, it is the BOE and its sole subsidiary, the HSA, and the teacher’s union that elect our BOE Memebers.
Influenced by the BOE, the HSA mommies tell the sports daddies who to vote for. It is quite incestuous.
I can count on one hand the number of candidates who have been elected from outside of the BOE or the HSA. Those that have, have served only one term before being defeated in the next election by the Education Establishment. So, there you have it. Unless one kisses a$$ at the alter of the HSA, the teachers’s union, the Educrats and their minions on the BOE, one doesn’t stand a chance at being elected.
You see, the educrats and the teacher’s Union run our monoplistic school system. Only those who toe the established party line are ever elected.
Now, if we moved the elections to November, the out come would be differant and the teacher’s union and educrats know it. That is why when it was proposed, this Spring in Trenton, it was shot down.
So, to all those who say we should run if we don’t like it, I say, ZIP IT. We can affect more change from the outside than from within.
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#50 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>john adams, where the heck did you get the idea that Bombace was ever a reformer?
In fact, he was an insider from the very outset and voted out after his first term by a village uprising against the BOE officials who proposed sale of BF property to Valley Hospital. He was one of the strongest proponents of this fiasco, kept under wraps until it was almost a done deal.
Furthermore, when Bombace chose to attend a son’s game instead of attending the League of Women Voters debate, he was offered the option of replying to the three debate questions via a letter. The other candidates were not offered this option. Instead, they were subjected to grilling from both other candidates and people who attended the debate. Bombace should have been thrilled, but blew it by being arrogant enough to, instead of simply answer the questions in writing, write a nasty letter to the League berating it for not staging the debate at a time and date that was convenient for him. The letter was publicly read, I think at his request. After he lost the election, he learned some humility.
Even after he being voted out, he continued to hang out with Brogan and Lenhard (before she was elected), maneuvering to get his seat back. He didn’t change his position on the Valley deal until a month before he ran to get his seat back.
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#52 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Is this discussion about the BOE president or the math program?
Parents are bringing up concerns about their kids not learning math, a basic part of education.
If the commnuity feels that the BOE is not doing their job ensuring a quality education then the answer is simple – get new faces on the board.
TERC has been recognized nationally by highly qualified individuals as a terribly damaging math program. There is no reason to drag Bombace through the mud to prove this point. If you don’t agree with his methods, don’t vote for him next time.
Some educationists will have you think that the only people qualified to even discuss choices in a math program are those who have degrees in education.
Parents have valid points since they are intimately involved with thier kid’s homework and in many cases are helping them themselves or paying for tutoring services.
Why is there no consistency in the math programs in our elementary schools? I don’t think most districts operate in this haphazard way. You don’t need any degree to see that it just doesn’t make any sense.
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#53 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>6:56 correctly observes that Bombace was a staunch proponent of the sale of BF property to Valley Hospital. TERC is not the only important issue this BOE continues to ignore.
Valley is at it again. They are in the process of pushing a vast expansion plan through, while the Village sleeps. If they are successful a full generation of kids at BF will be hurt over the next ten years and beyond. Valley’s proposed 80 foot structure will be built right at the BF property line. Dust and noise will interfere with learning. In the end a permanent shadow will hang over BF and its fields.
What has the BoE done to protect our kids? Have they taken any position on Valley’s proposal? If Valley is successful in pulling this fast one on all of us, has the BoE demanded certain concessions from Valley to protect our children?
As far as I can see they are completely ignoring this issue too. Maybe because the BoE President is still fond of Valley and its expansion Plans.
The BoE should take a position against this project. They should write to the Village Council and Planning Board. They are elected to act in the best interests of our children. Valley’s imperialistic designs will only hurt our kids.
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#54 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Unelecting a board member will not solve the problem. It takes 3 members to have a majority and only 2 are up — mark and sheila– next year.
Why should we wait that long, so that how many more kids are shortchanged?
TERC has to go now. Bombace is in the picture because he placed himself there when he decided that he knew better than all the information, data, expertise, experience and everything else telling him otherwise.
Bombace is the problem right now. He is the big obstructionist in this.
Why? No one knows.
He doesn’t know anything about constructivist math. He doesn’t know why it was developed; doesn’t know why the NSF funded it; doesn’t know it is experimental; doesn’t know that hundreds of schools that tried it in the 90′s have since dropped it; doesn’t know that it’s worst impact is years later when children exposed to it cannot be clever with higher math.
He didn’t even know what elementary schools in Ridgewood used it, yet he says that he is on the curriculum committee.
What’s wrong with this picture?
This is the man that is LEADING the BOE.
His VP doesn’t want to hear from parents at BOE mtgs and is waiting for more information…waiting. He won’t even go and get it.
Yet, they defend an indefensible program.
Sheila Help!!!!
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#55 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Clearly, this discussion is about TERC AND the head of our BOE. We have a legal right to question the competence of this elected official, and whether he is well-intentioned. Especially since the decision to change math programs is a policy decision and therefore a BOE matter.
Dragging through the mud? If Bombace doesn’t even know what program we have at a school, then all residents have a right to know. After all, how can he decide that the District’s math program is fine if he doesn’t even know what it is (though I’m sure that, after that embarassing mistake, he has learned more)?
Stop trying to muzzle voices on this blog. We have a legal right to question the BOE, and don’t have to wait for an election to ask it to at least consider changing direction. Furthermore, your glib suggestion that all we have to do is to vote them out ignores the fact that this BOE has a well entrenched political machine in this town.
Just for the record, I DO like some things Bombace does. I haven’t watched every BOE meeting, but it seems he tends not to cut off speakers because of the 4 minute rule. He also, unlike a previous BOE president, does not mistake the superintendent for his mentor. I have not yet caught him in a lie, and the same can’t be said for every BOE member.
However, I was no fan of Porter, but at least he usually immediately or almost immediately responded to the content of what was said and/or asked at the mike. This is no longer happening at our BOE meetings.
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#56 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Oh, that’s so cute that you are asking Sheila for help. Why do you think this BOE is so repressive, no matter who gets voted in? Who is the common denominator, on this BOE since the 90s? Who mentored Vallerini and is now mentoring Lenhard? Who really calls the shots and doesn’t need a title because she is the one really pulling the strings? Who spoke most glowingly and clearly was most involved in choosing a constructivist superintent?
That’s right, Sheila Brogan.
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#58 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Under the leadership of Bombace, our BOE is about to become a national embarrassment. So Ridgewood gets to be a joke again…Jeez!
I see no one else on the board with the heightened sense of survival that Sheila has. That’s why she is a survivor.
She alone among them seems to know when the cut bait.
Who else can rescue them? No one from the outside.
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#59 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Well, this is a lively debate here. Actually, for those who support Mr.Bombace, and I am one, he is dead wrong on this issue, uninformed and is way over his head here.
It boggles the mind that he will not do the work required to understand why parents HATE constructivist math.
As for Vallerini, he has proven himself a mindles boob with his comments. To think he is a teacher, that is frieghtening.
And Hutton, he will fight anything that parents want because he doesn’t like the authortity of the BOE challenged. It is his nature — seen it before, too many times, over too many topics.
Brogan is the only one with any political savy. She knows when to shut-up and when to seek compromise with parents. That is why she has survived so long.
She is the key to all of this. God only knows why Bombace is standing in the way.
Let’s keep the preasure on the ‘em.
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#60 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>10:12 am says
“Furthermore, your glib suggestion that all we have to do is to vote them out ignores the fact that this BOE has a well entrenched political machine in this town.”Voting for change on the BOE is the most powerful tool you have to use to express your lack of confidence in what is going on.
It seems as though you have already given up and are content to let the existing “politcal machine” take over.
Another alternative is to use the new “political machine” created by the math debate.
The growing math petition has close to 200 signatures that would probably vote for a BOE candidate who would be in favor of a return to traditional math.
Plainview Long Island’s recent BOE election ousted 3 incumbents, largely on the Investigations math issue. That district will be piloting other math programs in the fall and will be making a selection of a tradtional-based math program in the spring of 2007.
The message was sent loud and clear.
Either the community has confidence in the BOE or not. If not, and there are qualified candidates who offer their services to replace them, the community can do something about it.
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#61 written by John Adams 5 years ago
>Let me explain something here. We are a non-partisian town as incorporated in our village charter. When this village was started it didn’t need political parties because everyone was a Republican.
Over the past twenty years that has changed as the Upper West Side has moved into town. We are now evenly divided between Republicans, Democrats and Independents evenly.
Without political parties, little changes unless there is a huge outcry. And that only comes when money is involved.
I refer you to my last writting as to why it is not feasable to win an election to the BOE.
Furthermore, Plainview Old Bathgate has political parties. It makes it easier to throw the bums out. Parties provide a base of funding and volunteers. They also will cover your back when people sling mud, like calling candidates anit-semetic.
Oh, you say that doesn’t happen in Ridgewood. Well, you would be wrong. Ask Mr. Porro what his volunteers did to one fellow who ran against him for a BOE seat. My wife and I were sent a letter telling us not to vote for him because, they claimed, “he and his wife are anti-semitic.”
So, it comes back to, easier to affect change from outside than within.
Watch what happens over the next few weeks. And for those that cry “the critics should run,” please, if you believe in the BOE so much come to their defense at the next board meeting. Tell the village how much you support Constructivist Math. Put a face to your anonymous sophistry.
The people who are working for change are doing so, what are you afraid of?
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#62 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>The local political machine has already taken over, but is not invincible. My main point is we don’t have to WAIT for an election.
I know about the success of anti-fuzzy math candidates in NY, thanks partly to this blog, but the difference is that in our own community, an incumbent and new candidate ran unopposed for two seats this year, while parents were already speaking out against TERC. We have yet to see whether anybody will bother to run against Brogan and Bombace.
Nobody who underestimates the local machine will win. Anybody who tries to beat Brogan and Bombace, up for re-election next year, will have to muster at least ten times as many votes as those on the petition which, btw,I signed.
The BOE counts on a fragmented and uninformed community. Do you know how many people attended the League of Women Voters debate in 2006? Aside from LVW members, there only about five people in attendance.
The TERC issue is a wakeup call that I hope the entire Ridgewood community hears.
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#63 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Anonymous said…
6:56 correctly observes that Bombace was a staunch proponent of the sale of BF property to Valley Hospital. TERC is not the only important issue this BOE continues to ignore.Valley is at it again. They are in the process of pushing a vast expansion plan through, while the Village sleeps. If they are successful a full generation of kids at BF will be hurt over the next ten years and beyond. Valley’s proposed 80 foot structure will be built right at the BF property line.
Valley Hospital will be held to a height of only 80 feet? How in the world are they going to get everthing they need in buildings that short? Will they be going down a few levels?
A concerned resident
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#64 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>John Adams said…
Let me explain something here. We are a non-partisian town as incorporated in our village charter. When this village was started it didn’t need political parties because everyone was a Republican.Over the past twenty years that has changed as the Upper West Side has moved into town. We are now evenly divided between Republicans, Democrats and Independents evenly.
Without political parties, little changes unless there is a huge outcry. And that only comes when money is involved.
I refer you to my last writting as to why it is not feasable to win an election to the BOE.
This is the biggest load of CRAP I have heard in a long time. What a lame excuse as to why any of you will not run for the Board of Education. Hey John Adams you remind me of Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh…..sigh, the little guy can never get ahead, everyone is against me, life isn’t fair…..quit your wining and crawl back under the rock you came out from and quit being an ass!
A longtime Village Resident
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#65 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>The League of Women Voters is a left wing organization.
Why should anyone pay attention to them. Their debate format, if you can call it a debate, is totally lame. The questions they ask are stupid and irrelevant.
They have an agenda which has nothing to do with being non-partisian.
That is why no one pays attention to them anymore.
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#66 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>I would not have believed this if I hadn’t see it and read it with my own eyes. You small-minded, pompous jerks who have attacked Mr. Bombase on his lack of education have only served to show yourselves as bunch of dummies, which completely discredits your point and argument….
Someone Smarter Than You!
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#68 written by John Adams 5 years ago
>a long time Village Resident,
Have you ever run for office? I doubt it.
And I am the last person to believe that crap you said about “the little guy.”
I speak up plenty. Probably more than most and more than you would like.
So, unless I hear you out there fighting the idiots who run our village in all things, private and public, I suggest you wise up to the way this Village works and put yourself out there or ZIP IT!
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#69 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>9:04 pm Clearly, you have no idea which questions were asked at the last League of Women Voters debate, because obviously you did not attend.
If you don’t like the questions, contact the League yourself and make suggestions. They reach out to the community every year, but get precious few replies.
Furthermore, the debate does not simply consist of the three questions. The candidates are allowed to challenge each other. Finally, but most importantly, THE PEOPLE ATTENDING THE DEBATE GET TO PUT THE CANDIDATES ON THE SPOT. You have only yourself to blame for not taking the opportunity to do so.
If anybody rises to challenge Brogan and Bombace next year, I suggest you get off your duff and get to that debate.
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#70 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Hey Eeyore (aka John Adams)
You ask “Have I ever run for office?”
WHAT BUSINESS IS THAT OF YOURS….NONE.
And I am the last person to believe that crap you said about “the little guy.”
I REALLY DON’T CARE WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
I speak up plenty. Probably more than most and more than you would like.
YEA YOU REALLY DO SPEAK UP MORE THAN I LIKE, YOU REMIND ME OF AN EMPTY DRUM – NOISY BUT EMPTY.
So, unless I hear you out there fighting the idiots who run our village in all things, private and public, I suggest you wise up to the way this Village works and put yourself out there or ZIP IT!
YOU HAVE A LOT OF NERVE TRYING TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO. I AM WISE ENOUGH TO KNOW A JACKASS WHEN I READ ONE EEYORE! NO I WILL NOT ZIP IT AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
a long time Village Resident
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#71 written by John Adams 5 years ago
>long time Village Resident,
Getting under your skin, am I, you mean little man.
You are all hat and no saddle my simple minded little “Piglet.”
I have been to the LWV and it is a joke. Ha, Ha, HA. If you call that a debate, I got a Village Hall I’ll sell you for $6 million.
Oh, yea, I forgot that was $10 million by the time the idiots had their way.
Now, run home to mother my little Piglet.
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#72 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Hey Eeyore (aka John Adams)
You must be kidding!!! I would have to care about your non-sensible ramblings for you to get under my skin. So in-case you didn’t get this the first time (which doesn’t surprise me) I don’t care about you or your stupid opinions!
Regarding your inane comments to me, try having an adult help you with typing your thoughts sometime …it most definitely will help.
Your asinine words truly prove you deserve the name Eeyore.
A long time Village Resident
I just realized that I am using words you can’t comprehend, you better ask an adult to help you with that too -
#74 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>Eeyore (aka John Adams)
You asked “Then why respond if my writings have no effect on you, huh little Piglet?”
A fair question, I always wanted to see if I could argue with a supposed intellectual while having half my brain tied behind my back, unfortunately you haven’t provided me with that opportunity.
I do apologize for getting under your skin; I realize now I am dealing with a mental midget and not an intellectual. Please accept my sincerest apologies.
A long time Village Resident
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#77 written by John Adams 5 years ago
>There has been no argument my dear little Piglet (aka a long time Village Resident).
You are just wrong about how to deal with the the BOE and you know it. Running for or getting elected to the BOE will not change a damned thing.
To bad you are too simple minded to figure this out. But we shouldn’t expect much from little Piglet’s mind.
Read this week’s Ridgewood News. The battle has only begun. And my dear Piglet, we will win this battle too, just like all the others.
TTFN
Your faithful nemesis, Eeyore.
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#80 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
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#84 written by Anonymous 5 years ago
>John Adams,
Please allow me to educate you. The only thing you need to win ANY election is money. This is how the Governor Corzine got elected first as a NJ State Senator and then to Governor of the State of New Jersey. The Mayor of New York City, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, also won his election with money.
Clearly, it would only take a fraction of the money they used to get elected to the Ridgewood Board of Education. Now if you don’t have the money or you can’t raise the money to get elected then I really don’t want to see you in any elected position because that only serves to prove you are a failure.
Interestingly, recently it has been learned that the current Board President does not have a College Degree, yet he has been elected on two occasions. Now if a dummy like him (please excuse me Mr. Bombace) can get him-self elected I am sure with the right amount of money anyone can get elected, even you!
I look forward to voting against you in the voting booth.
Your friendly Village Idiot
PS – To a long time Village Resident, I must admit I got a huge laugh at the Eeyore comparison, I only wish I had thought of that!!
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>Are you serious? Bombace does not have a college degree and yet he is deciding the future of our children’s math program. Now there’s a scary thought.