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    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.
                                    