Take a Breath, Mr. Mayor

‘Mindful breathing” might be a fine thing for city schoolkids to learn — if they happen to actually make it to school. It sure would be nice if Mayor Adams focused less on educational bells and whistles, and more on ensuring city children learn their reading, writing and ’rithmetic.

That starts with getting them to school: More than half of Department of Education 12th graders missed at least 18 days of school in the 2021-22 school year, to count as “chronic absentees.” Across all grades, it was 40% — same as the year before.

Maybe marginal resources should go for front-office workers to hound parents whose kids haven’t shown up that day, rather than to yoga-certified breathing lessons?

But when the mayor shows up for the “breathing time” announcement, you know that’s what principals will feel like they need to prioritize.

Meanwhile, half the DOE high-school grads who move on to CUNY community college need remedial classes their first year, meaning the DOE schools graduated them without teaching basic skills.

Some of Adams’ personally inspired agenda is well-focused on the system’s real problems, such as his insistence on identifying and addressing dyslexia. (We’re beyond overjoyed at Chancellor David Banks’ emphasis on centering early-reading instruction on phonics, as well.) But yoga instruction and vegan meals, not so much.

Look: The DOE’s now spending more than $33,000 per student, heading toward $41,000 within a few years.

Yet it’s barely begun to reverse the drastic learning loss from the COVID lockdowns.

And the Adams-Banks team hasn’t even undone much of the de Blasio-era undermining of the system’s better schools, something that just prompted a marked parental rebellion in elections to Community Education Councils.

New Yorkers want stronger schools across the board, Mr. Mayor. Take a deep breath and focus on that. No more stunts that suggest your core initiatives are frivolous.