TESTIMONY
Anita Brown, Resident of East New York on the New Class Size Bill and its Impact on Low-Performing Schools
3:33:44
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4 min
Anita Brown, a resident of East New York, voices her concerns over the recently implemented class size bill, fearing it will further disadvantage low-performing schools.
- Brown expresses her disappointment that the bill was implemented without consulting the community or considering their priorities.
- She highlights the disparities between schools in areas like East New York and Brownsville versus those in affluent districts, worried that the bill will exacerbate these differences by reallocating resources.
- As an education advocate and PTA member, Brown argues for the necessity of more resources, extracurricular activities, and better facilities in low-performing schools instead of smaller class sizes.
- She calls for equality between low and high performing schools and criticizes the policy for not addressing the true needs of schools in her community.
Anita Brown
3:33:44
It's Anita Brown.
3:33:45
It's pronounced just like if it was a I.
3:33:50
Given honor to you, miss Joseph, to the committee council, to all of those present.
3:33:57
My name is Anita Brown, and I'm a resident of the East New York.
3:34:02
Section of Brooklyn.
3:34:05
I am proud to say that I'm a grandparent of 7, great grandmother of 5.
3:34:11
That attended public schools, some that have graduated already, and some that just start their journey.
3:34:18
And truly, I am happy to be here to voice my opinion on this class cat.
3:34:27
But I just noticed that I heard you say that the bill has already been implemented.
3:34:33
And it's sad because to me, where did it derive from?
3:34:38
Did it derive from statistics?
3:34:41
Was there a survey done?
3:34:43
With the caretakers about scholars could have put in their opinion as to what their priorities they wanted for their children, I didn't hear anything about that.
3:34:55
But I'm glad to feel your spirit because I see that you're a advocate of education just as well as I am.
3:35:03
In my years as a educational advocate, I have become ought to for me familiar with how public schools in Brooklyn have been consistently shortchanged.
3:35:14
I have seen the dark contrast and qualities between the schools in neighborhood districts like East New York And Brownsville, versus those in more affluent, high performing school districts.
3:35:29
I am concerned that this new class side bill will make that contrast worse, not better.
3:35:35
This bill does not provide more resources to schools that need it the most.
3:35:41
Instead, it will fund of the best teachers and even more resources towards schools that are already well off in high performing.
3:35:50
I have been around long enough to know that resources for our public school system are plentiful, but not infinite.
3:35:59
The fact of the matter is that there will have been to be a reshuffling of resources to make this policy work.
3:36:07
So I'm here to demand answers.
3:36:09
Why couldn't we implement a law that forces teachers in East New York to choose which programs to cut, just like it should have been offered to the parents as to the priority or what they would like for their children to make room for change in class sizes.
3:36:26
And we don't need why we'll desensitize high performing schools.
3:36:32
To post the best teachers from low performing ones.
3:36:36
And most importantly, why weren't we ax?
3:36:39
That our priorities work for our schools.
3:36:42
And because of you asked me, smaller class sizes will certainly not be it.
3:36:47
Schools in East New York need more resources, more extracurricular activities, and better facilities.
3:36:54
But that's not what this bill provides.
3:36:57
It's risk making low performing schools worse and high performing schools better.
3:37:03
I have served on 2 PTAs, and I've had firsthand knowledge of what the schools was lacking.
3:37:12
And some of those schools that East New York are run down.
3:37:16
They are being cohabitated with 2 and 3 schools.
3:37:20
And that serving on the PTA, I was able to experience what our children was not getting.
3:37:26
And it's a sad thing, but that now that my kids and my grandkids have grown up and went on to higher education, that I'm not able to be in the schools to see what came to fruition.
3:37:39
But as far as I know and far as for what my neighbors have told me, they have transferred their kids to other schools or high performing schools due to the lack of in our schools and our neighborhood.
3:37:52
And before I go, I would just like to say that Even though my name isn't my government name is Anita Brown, I feel I can be AKA, also known as Peter.
3:38:05
Peter.
3:38:07
Peter, they're all I know of my friends who feel they are Peters because you rob and Peter to pay Paul.
3:38:15
And that's a sad situation.
3:38:17
And dang's have to change.
3:38:19
There have to be some equality.
3:38:21
Just like they wanted charter schools and public school to cohabitate.
3:38:24
They have some be some qualities in the high performing schools as well as the low performing schools.
3:38:30
We need to be treated just as equal.
3:38:32
Thank you for your time.