TESTIMONY
Educator at Edward R. Murrow High School on the Impact of Budget Cuts on Performing Arts Programs
2:55:02
·
108 sec
An educator from Edward R. Murrow High School discusses the detrimental effect of budget cuts on its performing arts program.
- The school's performing arts program, including achievements like hosting the Morehouse College Glee Club and producing award-winning performances, is highlighted.
- Despite these successes, the educator details how continuous budget cuts and lack of investment force them to seek alternative funding.
- The strain on teachers, who are expected to compensate for the lack of financial support, is emphasized, affecting teacher morale and retention.
- The educator argues for the necessity of city support to maintain smaller class sizes and sustain performing arts programs.
UNKNOWN
2:55:02
So I'm the chapter leader at editor Murrow High School.
Rita C. Joseph
2:55:05
My son used to go there.
UNKNOWN
2:55:06
And we had Le Mes at our school.
2:55:10
So our school has an amazing performing arts program that most New York City public schools don't know about.
2:55:18
As a matter of fact, we have the Morehouse College Glee Club coming there on 18th, and I would like for you to be in attendance.
2:55:27
We have amazing programs.
2:55:30
We continue to hear every year that our budget is getting cut, but there's no real investment in keeping those programs.
2:55:39
We continuously have to go to donor's shoes and other funding sources to provide for supplies in our school.
2:55:47
But yet, we still hear about budget cuts.
2:55:49
Right?
2:55:50
So when we're talking about smaller class sizes, I believe that the city thinks that because as educators, we always make it work.
2:55:59
They don't really have to rush to get it done.
2:56:03
And that's the problem.
2:56:04
Because we as educators always get it done, they feel we just don't have to do this.
Rita C. Joseph
2:56:12
Well, they'll figure it out.
UNKNOWN
2:56:13
And that's why we don't have that retention number as that we need to have.
2:56:18
Because over time, teachers who have made it happen and gotten it done, just get tired of doing it without the support from the city.
2:56:28
It is high time we get that support with these smaller class sizes.
Rita C. Joseph
2:56:32
Mister Elstein is the theater teacher.
2:56:36
This is an awarding LaMisera performance, and Tony award winning performance, and I visited the school.
2:56:43
Yeah.
2:56:44
And I saw them practice lemmas.
2:56:46
So I'm I'm aware of what they do.
UNKNOWN
2:56:48
Yes.
2:56:49
Thank you.