Leaflet At Subways
Teachers Rally For Cuts in Class Size

By HOWARD MEGDAL

The Coalition for Smaller Classes, which includes United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten, sent hundreds of supporters to subway stations during the afternoon rush hour May 25 to distribute leaflets urging support of smaller class sizes. After a judge ruled six days earlier that Mayor Bloomberg had the right to deny the group's petition for a ballot referendum to lower class size, the Coalition is demanding that 25 percent of a settlement of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit against the state be used for that purpose. According to the UFT, just two percent of any eventual settlement is slated for class-size reduction.

The Chief-Leader/Pat Arnow SMALLER IS BETTER: Among those who have joined the United Federation of Teachers in advocating for smaller classes to improve learning are City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Robert Jackson, the lead plaintiff in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case.

'A Vital Campaign'

"If you actually care about school kids getting a good education, this is a vital campaign," Ms. Weingarten said while meeting rush-hour commuters at Union Square. "Let's make sure that when we get the CFE money, one of the top priorities - because we have lots of evidence that it works - is lowering class size."

A Department of Education spokeswoman said that the effort is unnecessary, given the advances DOE has already made.

"This administration has not waited for CFE or a ballot to reduce class size," Kelly Devers said in a statement. "We have reduced or contained average class size at every elementary and middle-grade level. Targeted class size reduction is a critical element of both the Mayor's Capital Plan and our plan for CFE operating funds, which together would ensure average classes of no more than 20 students in kindergarten through third grade."

'Time to Fight'

Such claims ring hollow for Manhattan Educational Liaison Cassie Carlo, who assists new Teachers. She spoke about one educator who complained to her that she was unable to properly reach individuals in her class of 42.

"I told her to say something about it," Ms. Carlo said. "She said that she couldn't - her neighbor taught 56." Ms. Carlo declined to name the high school.

Ms. Weingarten said the lawsuit and popular sentiment make for a perfect zeitgeist on this issue.

"The city plans to use $11 billion in new school construction funds that could result in 107 new schools containing 66,000 new classroom seats, so lack of space will no longer be an excuse. Now is the time to fight for and plan for the investments we know will help our children succeed." The issue goes beyond space for Ms. Weingarten, however, into the issue of quality of education.

"Maybe I'm so passionate about it because I was a high school Teacher," she said. "Look - 34 students a class, with five classes, how are you going to go deep enough with 170 students for them to compete in the global economy?"

Tamara Rowe, a parent of three at P.S. 3, said the space to expand already exists at her school.

'Make the Commitment'

"If the Mayor would just make this commitment, it would go a long way towards solving the problem," Ms. Rowe said.

Ms. Weingarten's group of Teachers at Union Square was one of many at subway stops around the five boroughs. The UFT leader said the next step is a television ad on the issue, to begin airing this week.

"You can see the commitment here," Ms. Weingarten said. "Advocates are turning out across the city."

Assemblywoman Sylvia Friedman was on hand to show support for the UFT.

"When I designed an award-winning reading program, I had 21 students," Ms. Friedman said of her time Teaching at P.S. 52 in Harlem. "By the time I left, my classes had 32 kids."