Budget Cuts Threatening To Cramp P.S. 321's Style
The administration and PTA for P.S. 321 on 7th Avenue and 1st Street—widely considered one of the best and most progressive public elementary schools in Brooklyn, if not the entire city—are up in arms about the $125,000 in budget cuts the school is facing, and they’re calling on parents to march at the Department of…
The administration and PTA for P.S. 321 on 7th Avenue and 1st Street—widely considered one of the best and most progressive public elementary schools in Brooklyn, if not the entire city—are up in arms about the $125,000 in budget cuts the school is facing, and they’re calling on parents to march at the Department of Education offices tomorrow. (Principals all over the city have been slamming the slashed DOE budget.) P.S. 321’s principal sent a note home to parents saying the cuts mean the school won’t be able to buy new classroom furniture and certain school supplies (including new math books), and that there will be less money available for the professional development of teachers. On Monday, the PTA co-presidents sent home another letter (see copy on jump) about how the loss of funding will hurt the school; this communication asks parents to show up for the 4:00 p.m. rally in Lower Manhattan tomorrow to protest the cuts. (The rally is distinct from the meeting about the budget cuts that Councilman de Blasio is holding at Borough Hall tonight.) So how does all this circle back to real estate? This is no doubt overly simplistic, but is it possible for the budget cuts to make some would-be Slope buyers (who often move to the neighborhood because of schools like P.S. 321) reconsider, or think about shelling out for private school instead? Or do the strong voices of parents at P.S. 321 affirm the lure of the school and neighborhood? GMAP
A teacher would stay late because they haven’t lost sight of the reasons why they went into education in the first place – especially the nyc education system. I think that the majority of teachers don’t view teaching as just a job and a means to a pay check. At least I have to believe this.
Off topic – but your right – except those jobs dont give you tenure, 160 days off a year, a 7hr workday, full health care, a generous pension, or sabbaticals plus a salary that within approximately 7 yrs (with education credits) approaches 70K.
Look dont get me wrong – it is a hard job and I could never do it – but the woo-is-me teacher cry is getting old. On an overall compensation level (benefits, time off AND pay) teachers can do quite nice.
Why would a teacher stay late if he/she is not getting paid, especially if he/she has a child at home.
4:04 Your post said they only need a HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA for the 50K jobs. The people I’m talking about graduated from high school but never went to college. (Yes, I know it’s hard for you to fathom that a college-educated person has friends who aren’t. You really need to get out of Park Slope more often.)Ass hat.
4:41 – I am saying that I have made annual donations that are the equivalent of Catholic school tuition. This is in addition to classroom supplies (I am sure you have spent more but I think you can be reimbursed or am I wrong?), time spent on field, time spent at writing celebrations making sure I write a thoughtful comment in 25-30 pieces of work, etc. This is not out of the ordinary and many parents willingly contribute vast amounts of resources and often at the requests of teachers.
My point is that maybe some teachers that are able to do so give back for the sake of the children – especially the struggling students.
4:38–I’m not tenured so no, I have no job guarantee.
And FYI–no job pays for child care, but may other careers are well paying enough to cover childcare costs.
4:33–I find it hard to imagine that you’ve donated more supplies than I’ve bought for my classrooms over the years, but perhaps that’s possible.
And you’re right: the best teachers are the ones who are there after hours, as I was before I had kids and had to rush home (since I was not paid for that after hours time I could not afford to pay a sitter to stay). This is why there are so few good teachers in the system–the work hard/stay late for very little money model is not sustainable.
4:32 – and I assume that once you are tenured you can stay out on maternity leave for years and the return to a guaranteed job at the same salary?????
FYI – no job pays for childcare
4:08 – I would be happy to pay your babysitter but I don’t have any extra money as I have already donated what amounts to Catholic school tuition to the two public schools my kids attend. Maybe I could be reimbursed for basic classroom supplies I also donated and paid for the time I spent on field trips and that way I could pay your babysitter.
Let me just say that most of the best teachers are in their classrooms well into the evening or arrive very early or sometimes both. I don’t think they are being paid for this time. The dedicated and creative teachers are 99% of the reason why I selected that particular school. Point being, there are teachers who are able to dedicate a little time to the children most in need.