Thursday, March 17, 2011

Hundreds Rally for Education Funding
(an article from the WDT)

Stop cutting public education, stop picking on teachers and support children.
Those were the main messages Wednesday night when more than 400 people piled into Case Middle School's auditorium to protest Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposed cuts to public education.
"We are ground zero in the north country for cuts," said Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D-Theresa, who spoke at the rally. "In the north country, we're rural, we're poor and we're taking it on the chin."
The rally was put on by New York State United Teachers and the Alliance for Quality Education, and teacher, parent and student representatives all spoke. Representatives of the organizations shared information about the proposed budgets and education in New York state, and they led the crowd in chants of "support our kids, not millionaires," protesting the "millionaire's tax" that is due to expire this year.
People were spilling out of the auditorium, holding signs that protested proposed cuts in state aid and pleading for an emphasis on quality education.
Mrs. Russell said the Assembly budget rejects Mr. Cuomo's proposed cuts to funding for Boards of Cooperative Educational Services and Regents exams. She told the crowd that while it may have heard about proposals in the state Legislature to restore school funding, the Senate's proposal calls for that to happen in 2012 — not in next year's school budget.
Kevin Todd, a social studies teacher at Case Middle School, spoke at the rally and said he's tired of teachers being vilified. He told a story about his background as a lawyer for three years in Vermont before becoming a teacher.
"I didn't like that people hated the profession and there was a lack of respect. I'm beginning to feel that way as a teacher," Mr. Todd said. "If we don't encourage quality people to become teachers, what are we left with? We say we would do anything to help the kids, and we need to put up or shut up when it comes to that."
The Assembly budget also restores some funding for teacher centers, which provide resources and professional development for local teachers, Mrs. Russell said. Mr. Cuomo's proposed budget provides no funding for centers.
Even some restoration would help the Jefferson-Lewis Teacher Center continue to provide professional development, Dianne H. Loonan, a teacher and the center's policy board chairwoman, said after the rally.
Because of funding cuts over the years, many staff members at the center have been cut and it now functions with an intern. Without the staff and funding, it's difficult for the center to continue hosting professional development.
"It may not be the level of funding where we were at before, but this would still keep us where we need to be," she said. "We don't live in a large urban area where teachers can easily go to colleges for professional development, and it's expensive for districts to bring that in."
Belleville Henderson student John W. Allen told the crowd that education is the most important asset society can give its youth.
"Education is beyond any dollar value," he said. "Without education, future generations will not be prepared to take on problems in society. My education is important now and in the future."
** I had never been to a rally before let alone one that was so uplifting and inspiring. It helped me to remember just exactly why I got into this profession. Times are extremely tough right now. My district announced that 18 teacher positions as well as 9 non teaching positions will need to be cut in our current budget. It is extremely scary and the mood in the district is gloomy. I am so very happy that I went to the rally last night and felt a sense that there are so many people out there who care about our jobs and the kids that we work with. I will keep going to these rallies and try to get back what we all work so very hard for...THE KIDS!

3 comments:

Jen said...

Besides parents, I think teachers are the absolute most important part of a child's life and the fact that the stupid millionaire bureaucrats want to make all these cuts makes me sick. I'm praying that it doesn't happen for everyone's sake. The world will be a horrible place if the schools are cut down to just the basics and have huge class sizes.

Justin said...

Sis, are you getting POLITICAL???? Great Scott, what is happening in the world?!

Haha, good for you! Solidarity woot wooot!

Ashley said...

Amen sister. I'm not even thinking about my job that's being cut (ouf course I need a job), but I'm thinking about Teagan's education in 3 years. Is this what education is going to be?