General News
‘Flunk the budget, not our kids!’
Jun 26, 2008 11:09 AM
Staff, students and parents from PS/IS 87 in Queens are unified against cuts.
An estimated 200 parents, teachers, students and elected officials, supported by dozens of motorists honking their horns in solidarity as they passed by, rallied in front of PS/IS 87 in Middle Village, Queens, on June 23 to protest the city’s plan to slash more than $400 million that are due the schools.
“Flunk the budget, not our kids!” read one of the many signs that were carried by the demonstrators as they circulated between two city blocks. “Defend education … don’t de-fund it!” read another.
The message was loud and clear and fully understood by everyone including the kids. One of them actually took the microphone and roused the crowd to near fervor with his admonition to City Hall. The youngster’s speech had not been memorized or written out but was spontaneous and obviously from the heart.
Paraprofessional Janet Sciarratta shouts out the reasons school funding should remain intact.
UFT District 24 Representative Rosemary Parker summarized some of the potentially catastrophic cuts that PS/IS 87, like other schools, would suffer unless the Department of Education rescinded its projected cuts and funded the schools as had been initially promised.
Citing abandoned after-school programs, diminished school supplies, and denial of programs for exceptional children from a long list of targeted losses, Parker dramatically urged the large group to “tell the mayor that he cannot balance the budget on the backs of children. They get only one chance. Let’s not shortchange them!”
Newly elected City Councilman Anthony Como condemned the budget cuts, acknowledging these are economically austere times, but that “the last thing that should be cut is education.” A spokesperson for Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi also expressed strong support.
The mood of the gathering was adamant. “We are the future. Don’t take our dreams away,” said one handmade sign. “No more pencils/No more books/ All because of/ Our Political Crooks,” said another.
