Mar 27, 2008 4:23 PM
All right, more chanting than singing. But the mood was definitely upbeat and positive despite the urgency of the message at the huge “Keep the Promises” rally at City Hall on March 19.
What is remarkable about the rally is that thousands of people turned out despite truly miserable weather even though this was not the usual kind of mass rally for better wages and a timely contract. It attracted all parts of the school community including students, parents, civic groups and public officials in addition to educators.
It was the importance of the message that motivated people: Don’t shortchange our kids.
Hard times or no, the education of children must be safeguarded from budget cuts that inevitably detract from and diminish their educational opportunities. Those opportunities come just once in their lifetimes. As UFT President Randi Weingarten said, the kids don’t get any do-overs here.
The same message was spread throughout the state Legislature earlier in the month when UFTers descended on Albany during their annual Lobby Day. Despite an atmosphere of shock and uncertainty over the sudden changing of the guard in the governor’s mansion, legislators seemed to respond positively to the educator-lobbyists’ appeal to reinstate the full increase of education funds that had been promised last year in the settlement of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit. Gov. Eliot Spitzer had wanted to cut back on the increase by some $200 million. The new governor, David Paterson, hasn’t commented on Spitzer’s proposed budget but we hope legislators push for the funds as the budget is hammered out in the coming days.
State legislators were undoubtedly influenced by the seriousness of the message on UFT Lobby Day. But they were bound to be even more impressed by the dedicated determination of the ralliers at City Hall. We hope the mayor was, too.
We hope he looked out his window and marveled at all those people down the street carrying homemade signs under their umbrellas, people who braved the elements just to tell him how important the schools are and that he needs to change his mind about budget cuts to keep the schools from being harmed.
Maybe they weren’t singing but the melody of their message was resonant.