The parents, teachers and children of PS 306 gathered on a cold morning this week to bring attention to one possible outcome of the looming cuts due to a slashed budget. The way things look now, the city may layoff nearly 5,000 teachers citywide -- and the way they are going about it is last in / first out, meaning that the most recently hired teachers will be facing the ax.
PS 306 is a new school, many of their teachers are very young and recent hires. Their youth and energy have served the students of PS 306 with the majority of them reading one grade level higher (click here to learn more about the way they go about teaching reading). But that youth and energy is working against them as around 50% of them face the ax if these layoffs go through.
It was a crisp, cold morning -- but that didn't deter folks from coming out to support their teachers and call for a different approach, one that wouldn't tear apart the dynamic they've built over the past 3 years. It was very early as you can tell below -- the sun's just coming up!
NY1 was there and interviewed some of the parents -- they also went live in the 7 AM hour. NY1 Noticias also went live, for the Spanish-speaking world. We were also there with our video camera -- and filed the following report:
The parents were very passionate about continuing the relationships that their teachers have formed with their children, and hoped that their protest would bring attention to their cause.
This would have been my school, had it been there when I was a young lad. As it was, we used to climb the gates there and play in the fields of St. Anthony's Hospital. Even snuck into the building a few times. But that's a story for another day.
Elizabeth Crowley of the New York City Council came out to support the students, teachers and parents.
As stated before, the media was on hand to give voice to their concerns.
The Woodhaven Residents' Block Association is putting together an "Education Council" -- a board that holds representatives of each of our community's schools. If interested, e-mail us at info@woodhaven-nyc.org
This was a job well done by the Parents and Teachers of PS 306 -- click here to visit PS306's website. And click here to follow PS306's PTA on Twitter.
If you have any comments, or would like to suggest other projects, drop us a line at info@projectwoodhaven.com or projectwoodhaven@aol.com.
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