By The Blogging Hounds
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic Socialist, is under fire after proposing to phase out gifted and talented programs in the city’s public schools. Critics argue that this move, framed under the banner of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), punishes high-achieving students in the name of fairness — a policy even the liberal Washington Post says goes too far.
Equity Through Mediocrity: Punishing Excellence
Mamdani’s plan targets early elementary school programs designed for students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability. The rationale, according to Mamdani, is equity: if it’s impossible to make every child gifted, the programs must be eliminated so no student is “left behind.” In practice, this means the children capable of excelling will be held back, leveling achievement through mediocrity rather than elevating opportunities for all.
Washington Post Breaks Ranks
The Washington Post editorial board criticized Mamdani’s proposal, warning that “gifted children have different learning needs from their peers, just as children with cognitive disabilities benefit from education plans that are specific to them.” The paper argued that the solution is not to remove opportunities from students already benefiting from these programs but to expand access and better identify gifted students from underserved populations.
“Parents see the gifted programs as stepping stones toward high-achieving schools down the road,” the Post noted. “But the solution is not to take away opportunities… it is to expand the program.”
Expert Criticism: A Soviet-Style Approach
George Washington University professor Jonathan Turley echoed these concerns, telling The Hill that Mamdani’s approach mirrors the thinking of a Soviet central planner. “By eliminating gifted and talented programs in lower grades, Mamdani will increase equity through mediocrity,” Turley said. He warned that New York risks following the trend of other left-leaning cities where advanced programs are being cut in the name of fairness.
A Tale of Two Cities: Cuomo vs. Mamdani
Mamdani’s opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, has promised to expand gifted programs, highlighting a stark contrast between promoting excellence and punishing it. Critics note the irony: Mamdani attended an elite private school himself but now proposes to trap NYC students in a system that stifles academic potential.
The DEI Dilemma: Fairness or Suppression?
While DEI policies are often presented as tools to close achievement gaps, Mamdani’s plan shows the danger of extreme applications. Instead of lifting all students, the approach punishes the capable, reinforcing mediocrity and limiting opportunity for those who could otherwise thrive. As parents and educators speak out, the debate over the city’s educational future has become a flashpoint in a larger conversation about the direction of public schooling under leftist leadership.
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