Thousands set to march for public education

March for Public Education ^ | April 2003

[NYer]

ALBANY, N.Y. April 16, 2003 - Education organizations today urged New York residents across the state to join the tens of thousands of New Yorkers expected to participate in a May 3rd demonstration in Albany. The March for Public Education is intended to show support for public education funding.

Representatives of the Educational Conference Board and the Public Higher Education Conference Board - representing more than a dozen education groups that are the lead sponsors of the demonstration - said hundreds of buses have already been reserved by public education advocates from every corner of the state.

"On May 3rd, we fully expect to make history," said Blaise Salerno, chairman of the ECB, a coalition of seven statewide education organizations. "We're coming to Albany to stage the largest demonstration the capital has ever seen. We will send a clear message to the Governor and Legislature: cutting funding to public education is the wrong choice. Join us in Albany. We need help to send that message."

Three Capital Region students at a news conference today described how the funding cuts will diminish their education opportunities and urged concerned New Yorkers to join them at the May 3rd demonstration.

The three students, a seventh grader from Hackett Middle School, a junior from Troy High School, and a senior from SUNY Albany all spoke about the impact the Governor's proposed cuts would have on their schools.

Public Higher Education Conference Board Chair H. Carl McCall urged New Yorkers to step up and be heard.

"This is about the future," McCall said. "New York needs to invest in education. How can we build a solid future without a solid foundation? How can we build a strong economy without strong public schools, colleges and universities? If New Yorkers care, they' ll be there on May 3rd.

The May 3rd demonstration, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Empire State Plaza, will feature musical entertainment, speeches and celebrity appearances. New Yorkers can obtain more information and register to participate at www.marchforpubliceducation.org.

In communities across the state, Salerno said, broad-based coalitions of teachers, school boards, superintendents, parents and students have been reserving buses- and at least one chartered train- for the trip to Albany. A promotional campaign featuring billboards and statewide newspaper and radio advertising will begin next week, adding to the momentum among education activists.

"Cuts to public education hurt children and they hurt New York's economy," Salerno said. "Parents of four-year-olds who value quality pre-kindergarten programs and college students who understand the importance of a strong public university system will unite on May 3rd. We have to make our voices heard - our state's future is riding on it."

A recent poll conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates shows New Yorkers believe that the state spends too little on public education and overwhelmingly reject Governor Pataki's proposed education cuts.

The poll of 460 registered voters found that 53 percent of voters think New York spends too little on education, while just 10 percent believe the state spends too much. Another 24 percent say the state spends the "right amount." And, when it comes to public higher education, 46 percent of voters said New York spends too little; 7 percent said it spends too much; and 32 percent said the state spends the "right amount."

The poll also shows that upstate and suburban voters reject Governor Pataki's "no new taxes" position as well.

Fifty-nine percent of voters agree that, instead of cutting funding for public schools and colleges, "we should be asking big corporations and people with the highest incomes to help carry the load by paying their fair share of taxes." Just 29 percent agree that "raising taxes is the wrong answer for the state's budget problems because New Yorkers are already overtaxed and higher taxes will kill jobs and hurt our economy."

Overall, upstate and suburban voters say they oppose the Governor's budget plan by a margin of 59 percent to 21 percent. Republicans oppose the Governor's approach by 50 percent to 27 percent, while fully 71 percent of Democrats reject the Governor's education proposal.

[NYer]

Dominique Chappelle, a seventh-grader at Hackett Middle School in Albany, tells a press conference why it's important to support the May 3rd march for public education. "If pre-kindergarten isn't there for my little cousins, they won't be ready for school," the 13-year-old told reporters. Looking on are Alan Lubin, executive vice president of New York State United Teachers and Tim Kremer, executive director of the New York State School Boards Association, part of a coalition of educational organizations sponsoring the upcoming demonstration. Photo by El-Wise Noisette.

Preschool? Next, it will be Day Care!

Any doubt as to the power of the teacher unions? Hear them shout, tomorrow, in Albany NY. Tens of thousands are expected.

Report Cards on the Schools, Schools of Excellence ... students today STILL don't understand grammar, despite pumping billions of dollar$$$$$ into their programs. Enough is enough!

[NYer]

UPDATE: Friday, May 2, 2003

• THE MARCH IS ON!
  In light of fast moving developments at the Capitol this week, the timing of the march could not have been better. While the Legislature is expected to have the majority of the budget and revenue enhancement bills passed on or about the day of the march - Saturday, May 3 - lawmakers need to be reminded how important these restorations are in order to maintain the courage to override the Governor in the event of vetoes. The best way to show that support is to be in Albany on Saturday. Let your elected officials know that education funding is important this year and every year.

PLEASE PING YOUR LISTS!!! Tell the legislators that they have gone too far and that you are sick of their wasteful spending.

[ICE-FLYER]

This is such crap! The radio ads are atrocious. They start out with "If you care about education, you will be there" Our educational system is under threat, it proclaims.

The lesson?? The public school unionized-one-government-standard-marxists types want to make any and all feel bad that they are not there and that only those who support public schools care. All you homeschoolers and private schoolers? Well, YOU are the threat.

These types disgust me.

[tracer]

I always choke up at funeral processions......

[NYer]

The public school unionized-one-government-standard-marxists types want to make any and all feel bad that they are not there and that only those who support public schools care.

Sniff, sniff, sniff ..... is it me or do you smell a Clinton behind this rally?

[NYer]

	For Immediate Release: April 28, 2003

 
Statement From Speaker Sheldon Silver On Assembly's Override Of School Budget Vote Veto

The Assembly today voted to override the governor's veto of legislation giving school districts more time to act on their local budgets.

This rare legislative procedure was deemed necessary by the Assembly Majority because of the governor's continuing failure to lead New York State during these challenging times. School districts and taxpayers, alike, have been held hostage by an executive who has, effectively, removed himself from the budget process.

At the same time, the Legislature, in a bi-partisan effort, has sought to address the needs of our schools through restored funding and a timeline that would allow districts to respond in a manner that would be in the best interest of students and school districts.

The Assembly, with our Senate partners, has agreed to make significant restorations in school aid. And while we fully expect to have a complete state budget later this week, decisions that would be difficult to reverse regarding property taxes, teacher layoffs and programmatic cuts are being made now in districts throughout the state.

It is my expectation that the Senate will soon join us in overriding the governor's veto so that school districts will not have to make decisions with such serious and long-lasting implications without a clear understanding of their financial positions.

- 30 -

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New York State Assembly
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[Noumenon]

Giving more money to public education is like donating your cash to add seats to your local porn theater.

[Bullish]

Sure! Just throw more money away on failed schools.

Liberals never seem to understand causation. It's not the money that's causing our kids to get less and less educated.

Money has nothing to do with it.

[Just mythoughts]

Remember when Bill Clinton needed money for the government the school children had bake sales.

They need to have a massive bake sale.

[Okies love Dubya 2]

"If pre-kindergarten isn't there for my little cousins..."

I never went to pre-school and I did just fine in school (National Honor Society, Honor Roll, etc). Lots of people I know never attended pre-school either and they seem to have grow up without any trauma. What these idiots want is day-care at the expense of the American taxpayer. This poor 13-year-old must be a (brainwashed) sweetheart of the NEA.

I'm so fed up with teachers' unions I could scream! The OEA had a rally a while back for 'save our schools' or some other BS. My understanding is that not only did they leave a mess behind at the State Capitol, they did this on a school day! Granted, the legislature doesn't meet on the weekends, but they are whining about more money and they can't even be in the schools to teach!

Let me tell you how I really feel :)

HOMESCHOOLING BUMP!!

[dasboot]

They wanted the kids to write letters and petitions, but.....er....well....y'know.

'Marching is lots more easier and funner plus you can get on TV.' (wrote Johnny Sic)

[jrushing]

The March for Public Education is intended to show support for public education funding. The poll of 460 registered voters found that 53 percent of voters think New York spends too little on education, while just 10 percent believe the state spends too much

What can they possibly be talking & protesting about? See Below!

New York spent $10,922 per student in 2001, outdoing second-ranked New Jersey by $29. Connecticut, Alaska and Massachusetts also were big spenders in 2001, at more than $9,000 per pupil. Also top-ranked were Rhode Island, $8,775; Vermont, $8,706; and Delaware, $8,603. "http://www.stateline.org/story.do?storyId=293163"

[jrushing]

New York First In School Spending

Hey I posted a link!

[MadMoo]

Since stupid is what stupid does, I'll bet the marchers get lost! Will we have an Amber Alert?

[UCFRoadWarrior]

NY isnt the only state w Edu-Fascists. Florida has its share

The voyers passed a referendum last yr limiting class size. Jeb Bush was always against it.....and he almost got it defeated (it lost support as local school district leaders realized how much it would cost). It will probably be killed somehow

Today...on the radio one of the local school districts in Orlando area had a spokesman stating "we have improved over last year....our test scores were down 2% while the state average was down 6%...." (figure out the stupidity here)

All public schools are a mess...some worse than others

[jrushing]

Thousands set to march for public education

Notice that the title doesn't say "March for Education".

It says march for public education. Education is not the concern but Public(socialist) is.

[Kuksool]

The NEA using children to advance its Marxist agenda is a sick perversion.

[NYer]

My understanding is that not only did they leave a mess behind at the State Capitol, they did this on a school day!

Yes! Those were college and high school students who marched. The numbers were too small to grab any attention, though.

Next came the Medical Workers. They arrived in buses from throughout the state. Leading the pack were both Sheldon Silver and Joe Bruno. The one question the media NEVER addresses in its coverage of these events? How much have the unions spent for this rally? They say they need money .... and this is how they spend it?! Notice that tomorrow's rally is craftily organized with entertainmenet. That means sound systems, large screen monitors for the rank and file to watch, electrical wiring has to be run, platforms need to be assembled .... what does all of this cost? This is absolutely pathetic!

[Kozak]

"we should be asking big corporations and people with the highest incomes to help carry the load by paying their fair share of taxes."

Translation: Make someone besides me pay. Gimme a dollar.

[NYer]

New York First In School Spending

Excellent find!!! Can you pass this information on to your local media. Perhaps someone can get this message across to the public.