By Jack Stern
New York City mayoral frontrunner and democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani served as a multi sponsor on Assembly Bill A4638, which aims to overhaul the state’s educational system through integration and implementation of an ethnically motivated agenda.
The bill places an emphasis on creating a curriculum that mandates teaching students about Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history and culture with strict metrics for success. In addition to supporting statewide educational legislation in Albany, Mamdani has made it clear that he plans to make major changes to the New York City Public School system by proposing the elimination of the Gifted and Talented program.
Of the 45 sponsors on A4638, only three were Republicans indicating the partisan divide that exists with heavy democratic support and pushback from the other side of the aisle. More importantly, Mamdani’s legislative track record, proposed changes to the Department of Education in NYC, and allegiance with the LGBTQA community could lead to more crazy policies being created.
After all, if he’s willing to support a bill that intentionally censors the state’s curriculum and establishes certain ethnicities as superior to the rest, just use your imagination to think about what’s coming next. School children in NYC are supposed to learn about the beauty and importance of growing up in a diverse community. If A4638 is passed, the represented communities’ teachings will take priority over learning about ALL of the races and ethnicities in one of America’s most diverse cities.
Zohran Mamdani was one of 42 assembly democrats to multi sponsor an ethnically motivated curriculum agenda in public schools
Likewise, the ethnic groups that are set to benefit from changes to the curriculum represent a very small percentage of the student body. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, account for roughly 20 percent of students in New York City meaning the teachings won’t match the demographic majority. In simpler terms – most students will be forcefully taught about ethnicities which don’t represent them or many of their peers.
The ethnic demographics that were specifically included in the bill make up less than a quarter of NYC public school student body
Which isn’t all bad; but making that the focal point of an already tough to design curriculum that attempts to cater to students with varying backgrounds and learning capabilities clearly isn’t effective. In fact, during a formative stage developmentally, it could create more confusion and harm than good. Similar to how the NYPD’s best talent is likely to flee if Mamdani gives the CCRB power of authority in determining officer discipline, top teachers could become frustrated and discouraged with an overly restrictive system that inhibits creative freedom should this bill pass. And if it does, expect Mamdani to keep his foot on the gas by using it as a launchpad to pass similarly crazy legislation.