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Know Your Rights
Source: New York Post
Subject: Immigration
Type: Media Coverage

Weiner’s banner day

The Democratic candidates for mayor yesterday attacked the city school system for suspending too many students, but only one hopeful — Anthony Weiner — spoke out for those pupils trying to learn in a disruptive classroom.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio charged that many suspensions are racially biased and called for sweeping changes to “the whole approach” during a forum in Astoria, Queens, sponsored by Make the Road New York.

Former Comptroller Bill Thompson was concerned that administrators, not school safety agents, make the decision on which students should get the heave-ho.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn pointed out that it was the council that forced the administration to turn over suspension statistics.

And city Comptroller John Liu declared to the largely Hispanic crowd when his turn came, “No más! No más!”

He went so far as to suggest that the city Department of Education was deliberately booting students with poor grades so their failing scores would be removed from the averages.

“It’s all about numbers, test scores,” he charged.

It was left to Weiner to defend students and teachers who have to cope with disruptive behavior.

“We cannot let that classroom come to a halt because a teacher can’t teach,” he said. “That teacher has rights. Those students who are not acting out have rights, and we should honor them as well.”

The candidates appeared at the forum after stumping at the city’s Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Weiner, disgraced in a 2011 sexting scandal, shouted, “Viva Puerto Rico!’’ to the crowds through a bullhorn and posed for photos as several of his pretty campaign workers waved flags.

“Everybody makes mistakes,” said Bronx resident Maria Ramos, 45. “He’s a good man, and I hope that he wins. I’d vote for him.”

A Vietnam veteran who identified himself as Luis booed the would-be mayor as he walked by.

“He’s disgusting, putting his body on the Web and degrading women like he did, embarrassing his wife,” the man said.

Another paradegoer noted only, “There’s a lot of pretty girls with Weiner.”

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