Most people are generally aware that American high schoolers' classroom performance has been declining for decades, and a pandemic-prompted exodus from the classrooms led to historic declines in learning and social development. It has become abundantly clear that too many educators are failing their pupils, and a disgraced New York City high school illustrates why students' performance has fallen into the dungeon.

NYC High School Counts Dungeons & Dragons Club as English Credits

In early July, the media reported a story that exposed the depths to which certain educational institutions have fallen. The story involves Gotham Professional Arts Academy in Brooklyn, and exposed that:

• Educators, including teacher Jason Smith and principal Robert Michaelin, have allegedly given students credits in English for courses that should not qualify as high school credit, including a Dungeons & Dragons club that met twice per week
• Another course, called “Scrapbooking,” only required students to make collages from photos on their phones in return for an “A” in English
• Students also received credit for social studies and health, despite the “courses” being homeroom meetings in which they did not complete any actual coursework

Unsurprisingly, despite a graduation rate of 91%, only 53% of graduates were reportedly prepared to handle college curricula.

Unfortunately, the Mail-It-In Attitude at Gotham Professional Arts Academy Is All Too Common

First, we must acknowledge the countless educators across the United States whose passion and professional mission is preparing their students for college and life. Now, let's also acknowledge that—while it serves as an extreme case—the bare-bones “education” (which feels like the wrong word) provided by Gotham Professional Arts Academy is sadly pervasive at many other schools nationwide.

In fact, many of the public schools throughout New York City, and the administrators who oversee them, have faced scrutiny for prioritizing graduation rates over student preparedness. Supposed educators at these schools, critics claim, are most concerned with shuffling students off the graduation stage and onto the next stop on the educational assembly line, regardless of how unprepared those students may be.

Too many teachers and administrators treat education like a no-show job. While no-show gigs have a storied history in New York City, they should never exist in the educational sector.

Hire the Lento Law Firm Team to Make the Investment in Your Student's Future

We represent high school students facing a wide range of issues, including:

• Unfair grading practices
• Baseless or heavy-handed discipline
• Threats of alternative education
• Retaliation for filing complaints against an educator or administrator
• Any other problem that threatens the student's academic record, behavioral record, or graduation timeline

We may even be able to help if, like students attending Gotham Professional Arts Academy, your student is not receiving the basic education they are guaranteed. Failure to prepare students for the rigors of college is negligence. Such negligence can cripple a young person's future, and we will explore all possible resolutions available to you and your student.

If you want to take action in your student's interest, or you simply want to discuss an issue you're concerned about, call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.