Teachers Union Survey Shows Most City Elementary Schools Hit With Budget Cuts
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
A study from a teacher's union finds budget cuts have had the harshest effect on the city's youngest students.
The United Federation of Teachers said its survey found nearly three-quarters of elementary schools were hit with cuts.
The union said many of those schools were forced to cram more students into crowded classrooms and reduce services.
Hundreds of elementary, middle and high schools surveyed reported shortages of textbooks, supplies and personnel.
UFT President Michael Mulgrew said in total nearly one million children have been affected by budget cuts.
"If we have a fourth year of cuts, then we are all standing by. The elected officials at every level are saying, 'We're going to let children continue to suffer,'" Mulgrew said.
"If anyone wanted to destroy the school system, that's what you would do. We can't take it anymore, we're cut to the bone," said teacher Joan Dichter.
A city Department of Education spokesperson said she was glad to see the UFT speaking out and hoped it would lobby the state for more funding.