AfterDawn: News

Newark Mayor is 40 percent of the way to matching Zuckerberg pledge

Just days after receiving a pledge of $100 million from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Newark Mayor Cory Booker has said he has raised $40 million from private donors in his ongoing effort to match the gift.

"I am so grateful that so many are stepping forward after Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement to answer our call to action and share our commitment in the limitless potential of Newark’s students," says Booker.



The money will all go towards the struggling Newark public school system, which is one of the nation's highest funded but one of its most under performing.

Newark has 280,000 residents, 70,000 of which make under $10,830, the Federal Poverty Level. Only 51 percent of students graduate high school, and 85 percent of those that do need remedial help in English or Math.

Booker says the city may close the worst schools and fire teachers, and that the money will not be used towards private-schools.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Sep 2010 22:43

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• 3 comments

• dEwMe

  Wow...If it were only as easy to get these kids to want to learn and put in the effort required...Throwing money at the problem probably isn't going to help. That money would be better put towards programs for kids that do want to learn...
  
  

  Just my $0.02,
  
  dEwMe
  

  28.9.2010 10:18 #1

• defgod

  Originally posted by dEwMe: Wow...If it were only as easy to get these kids to want to learn and put in the effort required...Throwing money at the problem probably isn't going to help. That money would be better put towards programs for kids that do want to learn...
  Actually a lot of the times it is the teaching methods not the kids. That is one of the biggest reasons that the U.S. is currently lagging behind other countries in education. It's the whole treat everyone the same. Teach everyone the same. We're not all the same. We don't all learn the same way.
  

  28.9.2010 18:19 #2

• dEwMe

  Originally posted by defgod:
  
  Actually a lot of the times it is the teaching methods not the kids. That is one of the biggest reasons that the U.S. is currently lagging behind other countries in education. It's the whole treat everyone the same. Teach everyone the same. We're not all the same. We don't all learn the same way. Eh a lot of the kids won't put in any effort. Doing homework and etc are vital to the process. If the kids won't put in the effort I doubt they'll be worth anything in the workforce.
  
  I think the thing people miss when touting the better results in other countries is the kids actualy give a crap and work very hard. If anybody thinks Japan does so well isn't do 99% to the insane amount the kids and the parents put into it, your not looking very close...
  
  

  Just my $0.02,
  
  dEwMe
  

  29.9.2010 11:15 #3