Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Taking Action on the Cuts

On Thursday the 14th of 2008, St. Valentine's Day, NYC's Students are Taking Action.

In response to the City and State's recent education budget cuts, a group called Students Against Budget Cuts has organized a protest on the steps of Tweed Courthouse.

This is no surprise to me. These cuts have sent a shock down the spine of NYC's student body to larger extent than any education issue since the cell phone ban. Students feel betrayed. We feel as though the State and City are disrespecting us and demeaning our status as learners.

These budget cuts are more of a future-cut than anything else. They show a great lack of concern for the urgent welfare of our City's students and in doing so forgetting about the future of our City, our State and our Society

The education investment is one for the years to come. It won't always yield the quickest results but in the long term it is an investment for the future. Through these budget cuts, Spitzer and Bloomberg signaling to NYC Students that no, we are not the future.

So now, you've got us energized, Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Spitzer. Students are protesting. Facebook Groups against the cuts are popping up every day. Petitions are being circulated. At LaGuardia, the Student Government has put together a Budget Cuts committee to coordinate protest efforts and to examine the school's budget and make recommendations about how to respond to the cuts.

Do not take our investment in our learning for apathy. When you wrong us we will fight back. Listen.

2 comments:

J said...

This is not just the fault of our state and city politicians. The new Bush budget underfunds NCLB by $955million. Imagine if that money actually funded the mandates placed on our schools.
It's time to do away with unfunded mandates have a real funding formula for New York schools.

I hope this coalition gets the job done that so-called political "leaders" can't do.

John Rennhack
www.johnrennhack.com

Louis said...

if anyone reads this before this afternoon, i urge all who can to join us at Tweed at 4 p.m. to show DOE exactly how we feel about these budget cuts.