New York City public education

"Last year, 16 percent of kids in grades three, four and five passed the state math exam — well below the 41 percent citywide average; 19 percent passed the English exam, compared to 40 percent citywide. The 2016 exams had fewer questions and gave students unlimited time to finish."

The above is taken from a New York Post  article about one elementary school.  What is striking, demoralizing so, are the cited city wide averages of 41 percent for math and 40 percent for English state exam scores.  Focus on those numbers for a moment.

In New York City, the averages for math and English are 41% and 40% respectively.  How, we must ask, can students succeed in the light of those scores?  How are they being prepared to succeed as citizens in our nation?  This, in a city dominated by Democrats, with some of the highest per student spending on education in the nation.  According to the US Census figures from 2013, New York City public schools spent the second most amount per student ($20,331) in the nation.  Only Boston ($20,502) spent more.

How do the people of New York stand by and accept such an abysmal and inexcusable situation?  Would they accept only 40% of the subways working on any given day?  Would they accept only 41% of the trash being collected?  Would they accept only 40% of calls for the fire department being answered?  Would they accept only 41% of the streets being cleaned?

For all of that, the average numbers cited for passing the state math and English exams are stunningly low.

Leaves one speechless!