Institutions-url
From The Peopling of New York City
There are many types of community facilities/ institutions in East Harlem: educational, religious, cultural, recreational and health- related institutions. There are several other: social service and homless shelters; however, in this section of institution they will not be our focus. East Harlem has an abundance of community institutions. In the past 20 years a number of these have closed due to under funding, low rating or gentrification. Within this section we will present critical institutions within East Harlem and the effects of the past twenty years.
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Schools of East Harlem
East Harlem is divided into two school districts: District 4 and a small part of District 5. Together the two districts holds 29 schools (elementary, intermediate and high schools). There are also 17 private and parochial schools. The education system within East Harlem has made tremendous improvements since the 1990's, instituting the well known Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, however, during the 1990's, East Harlem face extremely low enrollment rate. Since then enrollments rate have increased; however, a new problem rises, school closings. Due to assimilation of immigrants with non English background students, academic rating have fell, causing these local East Harlem schools to close or get phased out.
School Closings
There are many reasons why the government chooses to close or phase out schools: poor behavior, poor graduation rates, high drop rates and low enrollments, the lists goes on. Gentrification, the renovation or improvement of a community is also seen as a factor of schools closing; the government closes schools to build better ones.
The UFT has argued that report cards often poorly reflect a school’s actual academic performance. The New York City Department of Education tends to look mainly at standardized tests and year-by-year improvement on scores, rather than the overall quality of education. In the past 20 years, East Harlem has suffered numerous closings. Changing a school is extremely difficult, and in the cases of some East Harlem schools it is unsuccessful.
St. Francis de Sales School
St. Francis de Sales School is located on East 97th Street, close to the border between East Harlem and the Upper East Side. Gentrification has caused prices in this neighborhood to skyrocket, making costs for a school that was meant to serve working-class citizens to much to handle.
The school started out as a two building academy housing more than 600 students, known as St. Francis de Sales & St. Lucy Academy, which opened more than a decade ago. Three years ago, falling enrollment led to St. Lucy' closing. In March 2007, the 200 students of St. Francis de Sales were told that the school would be closing in June and that if parents needed help looking for another Catholic school, the school would help them find one.
Many parents and clergyman felt like this school will close now and then be reopened as a more private school or academy. This shows the problem that gentrification has caused for families in East Harlem. This school used to be a haven for children and an affordable school for working class families to afford. Now, parents have to either send their children to a private catholic school that is further away from their home, send them to public school, or pay a higher cost for a school that is still close.
St. Cecilia Parish School
In 1991 the Archdiocese of New York announced they were closing five of its 312 schools. St Cecilia located at 220 East 106th Street was one of the five schools chosen to be closed down. The closing of this East Harlem catholic school was emotional and devastating for Rev. Simmons, the paster of the church. With a 50% drop in enrollment, Rev. Simmons knew it would happen sooner or later. Enrollment fell under 300 in 1991 from more than 600 in 1975. St. Cecilia was also the most subsidized school in the system, having a school budget of $800,000. The 104 year old building first served as a hospital during the Civil War; it was also in need for extensive repair. New York Times
IS 117 in the Tito Puente Education Complex
There are three schools within the Tito Puente Education Complex: JHS 117 (closing), the Talented and Gifted School (TAG). This is a K- 8 school that heeds to students with high- achieving excellence. And lastly a District 75 school, which serves children with critical handicaps.
Many were surprised to here the closing JHS 117. During the school year of 2006- 2007 JHS 117 introduced new academic & technology programs to improve student interest and achievement. The administration added new technology, which including Smart Boards (large screens connected to the Internet) and portable lap top. New after school programs developed helping students with math and reading. Other extra curricular activities included drama, dance, and music. And although parent involvement lacked, the school was able to establish its first ever School Leadership Team.
Student behavior and attendance seemed to not improve, however. JHS 117 in the past, had suffered from low academic achievement and poor student conduct. Within the schools community there has bee reports of hospitalized students, property vandalizing and fights conducted on school grounds. During a Insideschools (a program of Advocates for Children of New York; group of public school parents, children's advocates, journalists and teachers dedicated to improving public education in New York City) visit, parents and teachers decided that the school wasn't making enough improvement and called to phase out JHS 117 house of the three- housed complex. New York Times
Academy of Environmental Sciences
| Percentage of students that scored at or above Level 3 in Math, Reading and Science | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | Total Tested in Reading | Math | Total Tested in Math | Science | Total Tested in Science | |
| 6th Graders | 20% | 25 | 13% | 24 | n/a | 0 |
| 7th Graders | 24% | 131 | 16% | 134 | n/a | 0 |
| 8th Graders | 15% | 136 | 18% | 136 | 44% | 129 |
AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE ABOVE CHART READING AND MATH SCORES WERE EXCEEDINGLY LOW AIDING TO THE PHASING OUT OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
Located at E 100th Street, the Academy of Environmental Science (AES) is a public school containing sixth- through 12th-grade. It was one of the first buildings in the city to be divided into schools. The building is shared between the Academy and Manhattan East School for Arts and Academics Middle School. AES occupy the first four floors while Manhattan East School for Arts and Academics occupy the top floor.
Trying to the recover from a problematic history, the AES has aimed to improving the school. When the organization of Insideschools made their recent visit, the saw plenty of changes throughout the school. The halls were cleaner and bulletin boards were maintained. The school also hired a new college advisor for the high school. Technologically, the school is improving with the installation of new Biology and Chemistry labs. Further upgrades included a new auditorium and playground, and safety improvement. Some after school programs offered: art, dance, and preparation for college classes.
However, with all its improvements the Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein announced that he would phase out the middle school portion of AES at the end of the school year, which earned an F during its evaluation. Its problematic history still took its toll with the school holding a 69% graduation rate and a fair number of students' admission to college. Its high school however, earned a C and will remain open. Students in closing schools will not have to find new school but will finish to their graduation; however, there will be no incoming 6th graders for 2008.
THIS A MAP LOCATING THE ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES IN EAST HARLEM
The Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics
A school far from closing or phased out is the Manhattan Center of Science and Mathematics located on Pleasant Avenue in East Harlem. Along with the Manhattan Center of Science and Mathematics High School, this large building houses two other schools: Issac Newton Middle School and River East Elementary School.
The building was first open in 1941 with the hope to provide the struggling neighborhood a place for teenagers to get off the streets and into the classroom. During the 1940’s East Harlem also known as El Barrio faced corruption and a lack of education. In 1941 the Benjamin Franklin High School (BFHS) was built at E 116th Street and Pleasant Avenue. At first a school for boys, BFHS trained the youth to be local civic leaders through community strategies and cultivate participation in resolving intercultural conflicts.
In 1982, BFHS was replaced of what we know it as today, the Manhattan Center of Science and Mathematics. Far different from BFHS, the Manhattan Center holds over 1400 students with high academic ratings. In 2004, about 7,000 students applied, but only 350 freshman spots are available.
The success of the school stems from the high quality faculty. The class of 2004 had a 96% passage rate on the English Regents and the class of 2005 scored over 90% on all their regents (excluding US History). In 2003 a majestic 84% of students graduated from Manhattan Center, 26% higher than the city average.
| Manhattan Center Graduation Rates | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent Graduated (2006- 2007) | ||||||
| Hispanics/ Latinos (240) | 80% | |||||
| Blacks/ African Americans (74) | 85% | |||||
| Asians (42) | 93% | |||||
| Whites (13) | 0% | |||||
| Total Students (370) | 82% | |||||
Although, the school has excellence in academics, the old city building faces huge amounts of renovation. An estimate $25 million renovation is in process repairing: the exterior, windows, stairs, boiler system and its grand regal library.
Most of the students are of Hispanic and Black/ African American ethnicities respectfully 61% and 23%. MCSM also includes small percentages of Asians and whites with 9% and 3%. As you can see Manhattan Center reaches out to the East Harlem population with consist mostly of Latinos and Blacks. Much of the curriculum includes AP courses and special programs, as well as research and internship opportunities. There is a wide range of extra-curricular activities offered, including a full complement of sports.
| Manhattan Center: Passing Math and Reading | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage scoring at levels 3-4 in English | Percentage scoring at levels 3-4 in Math | |||||
| Hispanics/ Latinos (302) | 82% | 87% | ||||
| Blacks/ African Americans (108) | 78% | 81% | ||||
| Asians (33) | 94% | 100% | ||||
| Whites (16) | n/a | n/a | ||||
| Total Students (460) | 82% | 87% | ||||
Demographic and Enrollment Change Since the 1980's
During the 1980’s and 1990’s East Harlem suffered from extreme low enrollment and drop out rates. Students had tendencies to stay home, even at the elementary and middle school level. “We have elementary school drop outs,” notes Annie Hodge who is a New York City district director for a nationwide dropout prevention program. The main source of this problem was triggered at the homes of these dropouts.
Many of these children came from low income, single- parent households that were likely to induce in drug use. There was no supervision at home; no one pushing these children to attend school. The United States at this time, 1990’s, was also facing this issue. In 1989 there was an average of 429,000 dropouts through grades 10- 12 each year. Hispanics and Black displayed the highest rates of low enrollment in 1989, with 33% and 13.8 respectfully.
Overcoming this problem was difficult. Schools in East Harlem hires education specialist, and social workers that saw 45 students a week attempting to help and change the students. Counseling increased along with after school programs and field trips, to make to student feel welcomed at school again.
This issue of dropouts isn’t so much the highlights of schools today in East Harlem. School closings are rapidly increasing due to low academic rates. Student attendance had greatly increased; however, reading and math scores are not improving. Although schools are making vast improvements to better schools, many schools in East Harlem face the possibility of closing.
Statistics
This is a graph comparing elementary, middle, and high school's math and reading scores within the East Harlem school District with City scores. Notice the immense difference; although East Harlem is making major improvements within their schools, the neighborhood still continues to display low academic rates.
Churches
East Harlem has always been considered a multi-diverse neighborhood. With the influx of different nationalities, the East Harlem community has been exposed to different religions and faiths. Italians with strong Catholic faith established the first Italian Parish in New York. Jewish immigrants also settled in East Harlem, though their numbers were nothing compared to the Italians. The Jewish prayer groups and synagogues that existed in the neighborhood began to disappear with the incoming wave of Puerto Ricans.
Recently, the East Harlem Community has faced problems regarding religion. Due to demographic changes and a shortage of priests, the church Our Lady Queen of Angels was closed in 2007 leaving hundreds of parishioners, many of them of Hispanic/Latino descent, disappointed and reluctant to accept the church closing.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
At first, devotees of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel assembled in private homes every 16th of July to show their devotion to their Madonna who was usually displayed in a modest altar. They were very religious people who viewed the Virgin of Mount Carmel as their guardian when coming to settle in the New World.
Several years before the church was built, devotees, the majority of them Italian, honored the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel in private homes. However, as the number of worshipers increased, the need of a church became evident. They no longer wanted to show their devotion to their guardian solely once a year in a temporary chapel, but they wished to have a permanent church worthy of their Blessed Mother.
Enthusiast worshipers assisted financially on the construction of the new church; those who could not offer monetary help were glad to offer hand labor in order to have their arduous wishes accomplished as soon as possible. In fact, the Italians built the church as well as the parochial school, which was built specially for the children of Italian immigrants living in East Harlem, in a very short period of time.
Even thought the procession from the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel through the streets of East Harlem is still an important event to venerate and honor the Madonna, the number of people participating in the procession has decreased over the years to only a few hundred now.
The 1990 census reported that only 918 Italian-Americans were still living in East Harlem; however, according to the latest census, there were 1,130 Italians living in Italian Harlem in the year of 2000. Even though there has been a slight increase in population, these numbers are small compared to the Italian population of past years. For example, in the 1930s, the Italian population reached its peak with 100,000 Italian-Americans living in East Harlem.
Today, most of the Italian residents live clustered around the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Since most of East Harlem’s population is now predominantly Hispanic/Latino, Italians live in a 10-block area that stretches from 114th Street to East 118th Street and from Second Avenue to Pleasant Avenue.
INTERESTING FACTS
• At one time more than 500,000 people attended the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel during the month of July before and after the feast day, which takes place on July16th.
• There are only three Images of the Blessed Virgin that have been coronated by Pontifical Authority: Our of Lady of Mount Carmel on 115th Street in New York, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico.
• The dress of the Madonna was made in India and is valued at 8,000 dollars.
• The crown of the Madonna and child is gold, adorned with precious stones.
• There have been several documented miracles that have been believed to be performed by the Blessed Mother.
• The Coronated Statue is taken down in procession only on special occasion and with the authorization of Ecclesiastical Authority.
• The procession is still held today at East 115th Streets.Interesting Facts
Our Lady Queen of Angels
There are two predominant themes that exist among the churches of East Harlem. First, several parishes have been closing down. Why? A shortage of priests as well as certain demographic changes has led to closings of at least 21 churches by the Archdiocese of New York. Many of these churches have merged with others in the 405-parish, 10 county archdiocese. Second, the parishioners of these churches are fighting long and hard to keep them open. Their passion and devotion to this cause seems limitless.
Our Lady Queen of Angels is a small Roman Catholic Church on East 113th Street. About one hundred people gathered in front of the church in the snow and cold weather on February 18th, 2007 because the Archdiocese of New York had closed it down. Even though doors were locked and no priest was available, a prayer service was conducted by several parishioners and their supporters in English and Spanish. The absence of a priest meant that no sacraments could be performed. However, hymns were sung and the same readings were read on that day that were recited in Catholic churches in other locations. Parishioners made speeches during which they criticized Cardinal Edward Egan for his decision to close down the church. Several of them refused to leave the area and vowed to hold masses in the same place. Furthermore, they argued that about four hundred people attended the four weekend masses before it closed down. Two hundred of these people remained at Our Lady Queen of Angels when it closed.
The Church was officially shut down on Monday February 12th, 2007. The doors were locked after six women were arrested after refusing to leave the pews in hopes that the church would remain open. In efforts to take more effective action, the parishioners, wearing hats, scarves, and heavy jackets, showed their dedication to the cause as they stood outside of the church one week later. The participants ranged from infants to people in their 80s. One man even held a wooden cross decorated with a painting of Virgin Mary. The rally received much attention as television news trucks made their way to the entrance of the church as well. Melissa Mark-Viverito, a City Councilwoman, gave a speech and publicly displayed a letter written to Cardinal Egan, in which she expressed her disappointment in the arrests and asked the cardinal to meet with the parishioners.
Further efforts made by church members involved appealing to the Vatican in order to reverse Cardinal Egan’s decision in addition to inquiring about making the church, built in 1845, a landmark. After the closing of the church, a note on its wooden doors read that it had been locked due to the “emotional climate.” What this meant was that those who attended the masses were too emotional about staying in this place of holy worship. A response was posted on February 18th. It was directed towards Cardinal Egan and said that locking up the doors of the church was not the right way to deal with “emotions.” Needless to say, the parishioners were deeply hurt and distraught over the closing of their beloved East Harlem church.
Mrs. Carmen Gonzalez, part of a small group of protesters who urged the archdiocese to reconsider their decision to shut down the church, died at the age of 72 in the month of August (2007). Since her passion lied in the reopening of the church, her family members decided it would be appropriate to hold a funeral ceremony outside of the building. The ceremony was held at 9:30 a.m. on August 30th, 2007. Marina Ortiz, a member of East Harlem Preservation, a local advocacy group in favor of reopening the church, stated that Mrs. Gonzalez brought the church closer to the declining Puerto Rican population in Spanish Harlem, in terms of culture. She struggled a great deal to keep the church alive. Joseph Zwilling, spokesperson for the archdiocese, argued that there were at least four other parishes in East Harlem that were not too far away. He claimed to have encouraged Mrs. Gonzalez’s family to approach one of these parishes so that she cold have had a proper funeral mass. He stated that it was disappointing that her family as well as the parishioners made the funeral an occasion of protest rather than one of prayer for the soul of the deceased. Furthermore, he said that demographic changes made it difficult not to close down many of the parishes. This 19th century building of worship was constructed when the area was filled with Catholics going to church and there was a need for a German-speaking parish. The archdiocese could not continue to keep a church where these conditions no longer existed.
One Year Later…
The six women who were arrested for refusing to leave their East Harlem church have faithfully and loyally, along with 40 others, gathered outside of the church to pray every Sunday for one year. Doors have remained closed, however. The archdiocese has a handful of nuns residing in the building on East 113th Street. 24-hour security has been set up to protect the building, ironically, from the ones who treasure it the most. Patricia Rodriguez, one of the leaders of the outside services, asked what the archdiocese is protecting the building against. All the people ever wanted to do was pray.
The six women had celebrated Communions, Confirmations, Baptisms of their children, marriages, and funerals of their parents outside of the church. Their dedication stems from the fact that these ladies were lectors, choir members, fund-raisers, and ecumenical ministers prior to the closing of this place of worship. Regardless of this, the women were arrested with criminal charges, which, fortunately, were dropped before they proceeded to court. Even after one year, the archdiocese has not backed down from its choice to close the church down. In fact, Cardinal Egan refused to open doors to the church so that a funeral mass for one of the six women could be held. The archdiocese has also displayed no interest in the women’s plan to independently administer the church’s finances. Joseph Zwilling claimed that the archdiocese planned to use the church as a meeting place for the youth group at first. After the parishioners pledged to hold 24-hour services in the church to keep it open, however, a few arrests took place and members of the archdiocese decided that they could not keep it open.
Saint Cecilia's Parish
Even though Saint Cecilia’s Church was originally a house of worship of the Irish community, this church has welcomed other groups of faithful immigrants. In the ninetieth century, the church served a large influx of Germans and Irish who settled in East Harlem. A century later, Spanish congregations were the predominant group who showed their devotion in this church. Now, the church serves mostly Hispanic/Latinos and African Americans living in East Harlem, but Italians, Jamaicans, Filipinos, Africans, and Germans are also seen worshiping in this church.