QUESTION
Have individuals in decision-making positions taught in New York City public schools, and why does classroom size matter?
0:42:07
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102 sec
Council member Rita C. Joseph highlights the importance of having decision-makers with teaching experience in NYC public schools, focusing on the issue of class size.
- Superintendent Khalek Kirkland has teaching experience in NYC schools; however, Dan Weisberg, First Deputy Chancellor, does not.
- Joseph emphasizes that decision-makers often lack firsthand teaching experience, affecting the understanding of crucial issues like class size.
- She argues that smaller class sizes provide better emotional and academic support.
- Funding mismanagement is criticized for leading to larger class sizes, despite under-enrollment.
- Joseph advocates for adherence to laws that support educational improvements and stresses the necessity of including educators' perspectives in decision-making processes.
Rita C. Joseph
0:42:07
Do you hold a teacher as a school administrator's license?
0:42:10
Have you ever taught as a near city public schools and New York City schools?
Khalek Kirkland
0:42:14
Proudly, yes.
Dan Weisberg
0:42:17
No.
0:42:17
No.
Rita C. Joseph
0:42:20
So here's my issue.
0:42:22
The people that are making the decisions have never taught in New York City public schools.
0:42:28
For 2 decades, I talked to New York City Schools, one of the biggest drivers for our educators was a class size.
0:42:38
So class size does matter.
0:42:39
It matters to me, and it matters to all of my educators across the city.
0:42:43
So in order for us to get it right, we also need people at the table, and that's why we had the working group.
0:42:48
So that's why I'm a little bothered that some of the recommendations were not applied.
0:42:53
To New York City Schools.
0:42:56
We see we see report after reports.
0:42:58
Smaller classes provide better support, emotionally, academically, individualized as well.
0:43:05
And I wanna correct something under enrolled schools, does not mean there's less classrooms.
0:43:12
Actually, kids are bunched up more in classrooms because of SFS fund FSF Funding.
0:43:18
So let's get that right.
0:43:19
I wanna make sure that's on the record and that's right.
0:43:21
See, that's one thing I always tell everybody before you come up before me do your homework.
0:43:26
We know that for a fact.
0:43:28
If enrollment is tied to students, there's no way you're gonna have smaller classes.
0:43:32
Because you got a bunch of kids in there, 30, 35 kids, and not enough teachers to teach.
0:43:38
So that's why we must apply the law.
0:43:40
And this is not because somebody told me, this is because I lift it.
0:43:45
I worked it for 22 years.
0:43:48
So I wanna make sure we get it right.