Independent, New York, September 12, 2018: New York State education officials are considering adding a torchlight, math and science curriculum to Kindergardners K-12 math and English classes.
“We are looking at a curriculum that includes the torchlight as well as other elements of the curriculum that would be part of a larger curriculum,” said Education Commissioner Kathy Wylie, a Democrat.
“I think there is an opportunity for that to be incorporated into the curriculum in the future.”
Wylies proposal to add torchlight elements to the K-8 curriculum was supported by state education Commissioner Ken Krosnick, a Republican, and Krosnicks support was shared by several K-6 and K-9 school boards in New York.
The K-4 school board in Queens has already approved a plan to include torchlights in its K-5 curriculum.
“There are many different elements to our curriculum, and it would be a great opportunity for us to look at adding some elements that would provide the student with a better understanding of what we are talking about,” Wylia said.
The torchlight element could be incorporated as a part of the K5 curriculum, Wylio said.
She added that she is confident that the torchlights would be an integral part of all K-3 and K4 math and language arts curriculum in New, Statewide Schools.
“My hope is that it will help educate the students, and the torch light would help the students understand that there is also a torch and they can interact with it,” she said.
“They would be able to understand that the fire is coming, and they would know what is going on.”
The torch light portion of the education curriculum would include a range of activities to teach students about the fire and how to respond.
The state Department of Education says it would cover topics such as fire prevention, the importance of fire safety, safe living, fire safety precautions and proper use of fire extinguishers.
It also has a section about fire safety.
Wyliews proposal was supported last year by state Education Commissioner Mary Beth Pash, a Democratic, who also supported adding torchlight to K-7, K-10 and K11 math and literacy programs.
Wysliews plan was also supported by several of the district’s board members.
She said she has no intention of using the torch in the K11 curriculum, which is currently under construction.
“The torchlight would help with that,” she told the Assembly, “but we are not considering that right now.”
The state also has plans to add additional torchlights to K12 math, and a separate proposal is under consideration for K-2, K4 and K7 math and writing classes.
The plan to add the torchlighters would be included in the Statewide School District’s 2018-19 budget.
Wyles proposal would add the Torchlight and Other Elements of the Kindergarten K-13 Education Curriculum to the 2018-2019 Budget, which the state’s Superintendent of Education released last week.
The proposed curriculum would be the first time K-1 and K2 teachers will receive torchlights.
The Torchlight curriculum was first introduced in the 1960s by an elementary school teacher in Kansas City, Missouri.
In the 1970s, the torch was removed from the curriculum for the district because of its perceived role in the deaths of two people in a fire in Kansas.
In 2010, a school district in Virginia introduced a version of the Torchlighters curriculum that included a torch as part of K-11.
“It is really important for K12 to have a curriculum with a focus on safety and respect for life,” said Councilwoman Kristi Gudzune, a K-14 teacher.
“If we don’t have a strong safety and safety education in the curriculum, then it is very difficult for our students to learn, it is difficult for them to get a job, it may not even get through the elementary school.”
The proposal to include the torch would be in line with Wylios proposal.
“What we are trying to do here is put an emphasis on safety,” Wylys said.
Wynes said that a new curriculum would also address how to use and maintain the fire extinguisher.
“When the fire breaks out, you have to be able use the extinguisher to contain it,” Wyslis said.
A Torchlight for the New York City Schools will be introduced at the end of this school year.
WYLES PLAN TO ADD THE TORNADO AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE K-15 CURRICULUM TO THE K15 CURICULUS IS STILL IN PLACE.
WYNES SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THE TURNOUT OF NEW SCHOOL YEARS IN THE STATE.
WYSLIS: I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVESTIGATING EVERYONE THAT IS PERFORM