The author is a member of the United Federation of Teachers in the Bronx.
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If the New York City government succeeds in forcing through a new round of budget cuts, the problem of overcrowded public school classrooms is likely to worsen. Overcrowding is already a problem in more than half of all the city’s public schools.
When drastic cuts were pending last June, the United Federation of Teachers and its allies pressured the New York City Council to approve $120 million to prevent cuts to schools. Now the Department of Education is calling for a cut of $185 million this year and another $370 million for next year.
The problem of overcrowded classrooms is not a new one. In 1997, the New York State legislature approved spending to significantly reduce class sizes from 1999 to 2007. Since then, however, there has been little progress, and much of the allocated monies have been redirected elsewhere.
The city would like to point fingers at the state government, which clearly deserves its share of blame. However, according to an April report released by the UFT the city’s Department of Education has received $152.7 million in state funds to reduce class sizes. The report found that the city has failed to come up with a plan to meet state goals. Moreover, the city is guilty of a double standard: it allows new charter schools to cap class sizes, while leaving public schools with classes that are on average 10 percent to 60 percent larger.
This writer is presently waging a union grievance against school administrators to resolve unacceptable working conditions primarily caused by overcrowding. In my place of employment, six mini-schools are squeezed into one building. This problem is compounded by the presence of outside agencies, including JROTC and a Commerce Bank, both of which occupy spaces in the building.
In 2003, New Yorkers for Smaller Classes—then a coalition of only parents and concerned citizens—tried to get a law passed that would have restricted class sizes. In 2005, it tried again to force an amendment of the city charter through the City Council to secure funding for smaller classes. Both these efforts failed due to opposition from the Charter Revision Commission and billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s political apparatus. According to a May 4, 2005, Newsday article, Bloomberg suggested he would take other steps to reduce class sizes, but these never materialized.
With severe budget cuts pending in all city services—with the notable exception of the police, of course—City Hall has decided to turn to the criminals on Wall Street to manage the Department of Education’s finances. The department’s new chief financial officer will be none other than George Raab III, former managing director at Bear Stearns. Bear Stearns is the company that made super-profits off of predatory real estate lending and then tanked before receiving a multi-billion dollar bailout from the Federal Reserve. Now, Raab will be in charge of handling the school system’s $20 billion budget and will receive a salary of $200,000.
It is time for the teachers, students, parents and workers in and around New York City to take charge of the school system. Last spring, the UFT organized a rally in front of City Hall to oppose projected cutbacks. Coincidentally, the rally was held on the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Students and teachers involved with the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) attended carrying signs that read “Money for Schools, Not for War!”
On Oct. 3, the coalition New Yorkers for Smaller Classes—composed of parents, community organizations, the UFT (United Federation of Teachers of NYC) and elected officials—rallied in front of City Hall to protest the continuing problem of overcrowded schools. Now with the economic crisis intensifying, we must step up the struggle to protect our schools.
Education cuts in the 1970s were so severe that for decades schools were in near ruins, especially in Black and Latino neighborhoods. Entire generations of New York City youths have been deprived of a quality education. We cannot allow this trend to continue.
Dino Camacho is a member of the United Federation of Teachers in the Bronx.
