Letters to the Editor

Fairness needed at Canarsie

Sep 12, 2008 12:01 PM

To the Editor:

I am a graduate of Canarsie HS, class of 1969. I was raised in Canarsie, my 89-year-old mom still resides there and I have been teaching at Canarsie HS since 1984.

As you know, Canarsie HS is phasing out. Mini schools have opened on the campus. That veteran teachers cannot get a job with new schools because their salary level is too high is bad enough. To make it even worse, the new mini schools get many features and upgrades that Canarsie HS never had.

For years I have been teaching in extreme heat during the spring and summer months. I was told we couldn’t get air conditioning because the building is not wired for it and money wasn’t available to upgrade the infrastructure. Yet the mini schools get new classroom furniture, new computers, air-conditioning and lounge furniture.

Why is there money available for mini schools that never was available for Canarsie HS? How do we explain to Canarsie HS students that they are not being treated the same as students at the mini schools?

The Canarsie community should be made aware that their children are not getting the same access to resources as the mini schools.

It seems dedicated teachers and students in phasing-out schools have no worth or value to the Department of Education.

Adele Leibowitz, Canarsie HS