UFT Ads Urging Smaller Classes

The United Federation of Teachers launched a multi-million dollar ad campaign last week to convince Albany to increase education spending and decrease class sizes.

The television ad shows an art teacher sculpting a piece of clay into the shape of a child. The picture dissolves into the face of a real child and an announcer says, "One by one, New York City Teachers are shaping the young minds who will be the next generation of leaders. Our Teachers are working hard, but there's more we need to do. We need smaller class sizes and classrooms where the value is truly on learning."

The ads are part of a lobbying campaign to get more money flowing into city schools as Governor Spitzer prepares for his budget address and the Legislature starts a new year.