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
“Look this debate is endless but this summer simply go to Prospect Park – look at the parents and the kids of the people who are outside bbq-ing and drinking and then go into the zoo and look at the parents and the kids who are learning about animals – it is apparent to me which ones (of all races) value education and which one don’t.”
And it is apparent to me which ones (of all races) value family life and communal celebrations. Sorry, but it says nothing of regarding if they value education.
poor sod.
I know a poor dumb Asian dude.
1.11 …and? Aren’t we talking about how to move the bulk of a population?
“culture” is spot on. Thats why asians now have the highest household income in the US and the highest average level of education achieved, leaving whites a poor second. School is more important to us than [fill in ]….
Duh.
I know plenty of rich people who are poor intellectually.
yes, I’m sure you know plenty of people who have achieved more success in life than the president of the US.
12.53 – Try Greenpoint. Poor working class Polish community, low wages, and very low rental prioces (until recently). Schools got A grades. Look at the success of schools in chinatown.
Of course in your should-be-this-way-normative worldview thats inconvenient isn’t it? Also the working hours of most professionals are considerably longer than many working class jobs. But please, carry on making excuses for people’s personal choices, and blame everyone else.
Of course its far easier to blame others than to change your own behavior. And the charge of “racsim” is a continual discussion-stopping red herring. Get out of your theoretical world and go visit racially homogenous countries. Guess what – you’ll find an underclass there too!
12:53 – why would you remove 1 parent from the household (what does that have to do with poverty/racism) and instead of getting a second job can I just get really fat and then get SSI disability – b/c then I’ll have plenty of time to teach my child.
Look this debate is endless but this summer simply go to Prospect Park – look at the parents and the kids of the people who are outside bbq-ing and drinking and then go into the zoo and look at the parents and the kids who are learning about animals – it is apparent to me which ones (of all races) value education and which one don’t.
Sure $ makes it easier but the reality is that with or without money it is the “culture” of the family that determines the outcome not the wealth.
Most of the rich people in the country started out poor. Poor imigrants too.
Brooklyn is famous for its rags to riches stories. I don’t get the pessimism on this blog about how woebegone the kids are.