Letters
Where Was CB 1?
To The Editors:

I am a resident of this community for over 40 years and live on Astoria Boulevard and 35th Street. I remember our Community Board Chairman Vinicio Donato and District Manager George Delis proposing to permit commercial traffic on the Grand Central Parkway from the [Triboro] bridge to the BQE 20 years ago. I was happy to hear the mayor announce this program. However, I was very disappointed that there was no mention of our community board, who began this program.

Thanks to them we will finally get some relief from the truck traffic, noise and pollution on Astoria Boulevard. Sometimes we can’t even sleep at night.

Keep up the good work.

James Grimes

Astoria

Hails New Truck Rules

To The Editor:

Some Good News: I heard on the radio this morning that the traffic, noise, air pollution and overcrowding of the streets of Astoria Boulevard which have occurred due to the many trucks that are less than three axles, will be eased somewhat in the near future.

Our mayor has decided to have trucks that are less than three axles use the Grand Central Parkway en route to the Triborough Bridge, instead of overcrowding the streets [near] Astoria Boulevard.

This is a wonderful idea and will be beneficial to all concerned, especially to the dwellers in that area, to those who traverse these streets either on foot or by car, and also our air and noise levels will be greatly improved.

I am glad to hear some good news at last that will improve the quality of life of our city, especially to us Astoria residents. I thought that it is great to share this good news with the many readers of the Gazette.

Cynthia Groopman

Long Island City

Game Before The Storm

To The Editor:

Astoria was well represented by my brother Joseph and myself at the controversial Yankee-Oriole baseball game in Camden Yards, Baltimore [Maryland], on Thursday, September 18. We are lifetime Astoria residents as well as lifetime Yankee fans. It was the game that was rescheduled to 12:35 that afternoon from 7:05 that evening, in hopes of getting it in before Hurricane Isabel arrived.

As far as Joseph and I were concerned, the decision to play the game worked out fine. We were on our way to spend the weekend in Washington, D.C., with a stopover in Baltimore to see the game. I just wish the rain came a little later so we would’ve been able to enjoy the whole game. We had great seats near first base and many others in the sparse crowd of about 2,000 were also Yankee fans.

Besides the controversy over playing the game, I will remember two dramatic plays from the game. One, of course, was when Oriole baserunner Pedro Swann was thrown out by Yankee left fielder Hideki Matsui after rounding third base on a single by Brian Roberts, the Oriole second baseman, in the bottom of the fifth and final inning, to keep the final score at 1 to 1. The other great play was a few innings earlier when Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter reached into the stands to catch a pop-foul down the left field foul line.

All in all, it was a nice day, despite the rain and impending Hurricane Isabel.

Frank Muldoon

Long Island City

Learn In Small Groups

To The Editor:

I read your article on page 4 of the September 25 edition of your paper. I agree with your statements that the New York City Public Schools are under-funded and the schools are overcrowded.

As a retired teacher and principal in the New York City system for over 35 years, I take exception to some of your statements.

If a classroom is overcrowded, setting up rows of seating will only make it more crowded.

If students are formed into seating groups they utilize less space. If children are seated in rows, all facing the chalkboard, you are discouraging any interaction except with the teacher. We are trying to encourage youngsters to think and interact with one another. Isn’t that the way the adult world operates? Students must learn to question and evaluate statements made by others. Otherwise, we are encouraging rote learning and mindless followers.

I agree that teaching multiple groups of children simultaneously is difficult. It requires training, which many of the new teachers have not had either [as teachers’ aides] or as beginning teachers.This also requires extensive planning and organization—another essential skill for effective teaching.

One of the most recognized effective instructional techniques is the use of cooperative groups. Children learn and retain much when teaching one another and working collaboratively. Working together and in teams is an important skill in the world of work. This isn’t the only way to teach, but one technique that has merit.

Every teacher knows that you cannot teach a class of 32 as a whole. Children are not all on the same level nor do they all have the same background knowledge. It is therefore important to work with students in groups so that the teacher can see what the child knows, understands or needs help in.

The purpose of bringing students in a circle around the teacher on a carpet on the floor is meant to bring students in closer contact with the teacher and other students to encourage learning. Carpet is expensive; however, many carpet stores are willing to donate out-of-style carpet squares to schools. Students merely pick up a square and join the group on the floor. It serves to define a students "space," thus reducing discipline problems. It provides a soft warm seat and a quick and relatively safe means of forming groups (rather than carrying chairs to the front of the room).

Contrary to belief, these "directives" are not new and wacky, but represent some time-honored, sound educational practices. Some of them have fallen into disuse over the years. There are many other problems facing this revamped school system, but these are not the ones.

Sydell Kane

Forest Hills