By “she,” I mean the principal.

It’s so much worse than you seem to think. The whole school has changed completely.

She shouldn’t be able to. She has a committee of teachers and studio department heads, but there is no transparency and she refuses to allow for disagreement. She’s actual not only violating the rules of the NYC DOE, but also the New York State Charter. Meanwhile, we (the teachers) are all terrified and can’t stand up…

Again, LAG Arts is demanding NO grade below 80 in 6th or 7th grade, which a lot of kids who are dancing or acting or practicing 20 hours a week at age 10 might have. Imagine one strict math teacher and a talented 10 year old with an 87% average and decent test scores. Now stop imagining because it’s real!

They are not saying an 80 average. They are saying one grade below 80 in 6th or 7th grade. That is not a fair criteria!

I’m a teacher there now, and I can tell you the kids who are less talented are also less hard working, less fun to teach, and more entitled. I would rather teach a brilliant artist or dancer who excels or struggles with my subject than a mediocre kid who hates the 3 hours of art and wants an A without trying!