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Dominique Chappelle,
a seventh-grader at Hackett Middle School in Albany, tells a press conference
why it's important to support the May 3rd march for public education. "If
pre-kindergarten isn't there for my little cousins, they won't be ready for school,"
the 13-year-old told reporters. Looking on are Alan Lubin, executive vice president
of New York State United Teachers and Tim Kremer, executive director of the New
York State School Boards Association, part of a coalition of educational organizations
sponsoring the upcoming demonstration. Photo by El-Wise Noisette. | ALBANY,
N.Y. April 16, 2003 - Education organizations today urged New York residents across
the state to join the tens of thousands of New Yorkers expected to participate
in a May 3rd demonstration in Albany. The March for Public Education is intended
to show support for public education funding. Representatives of the Educational
Conference Board and the Public Higher Education Conference Board - representing
more than a dozen education groups that are the lead sponsors of the demonstration
- said hundreds of buses have already been reserved by public education advocates
from every corner of the state. "On May 3rd, we fully expect to make history,"
said Blaise Salerno, chairman of the ECB, a coalition of seven statewide education
organizations. "We're coming to Albany to stage the largest demonstration the
capital has ever seen. We will send a clear message to the Governor and Legislature:
cutting funding to public education is the wrong choice. Join us in Albany. We
need help to send that message." Three Capital Region students at a news
conference today described how the funding cuts will diminish their education
opportunities and urged concerned New Yorkers to join them at the May 3rd demonstration. The
three students, a seventh grader from Hackett Middle School, a junior from Troy
High School, and a senior from SUNY Albany all spoke about the impact the Governor's
proposed cuts would have on their schools. Public Higher Education Conference
Board Chair H. Carl McCall urged New Yorkers to step up and be heard. "This
is about the future," McCall said. "New York needs to invest in education. How
can we build a solid future without a solid foundation? How can we build a strong
economy without strong public schools, colleges and universities? If New Yorkers
care, they' ll be there on May 3rd. The May 3rd demonstration, beginning
at 1 p.m. in the Empire State Plaza, will feature musical entertainment, speeches
and celebrity appearances. New Yorkers can obtain more information and register
to participate at www.marchforpubliceducation.org. In
communities across the state, Salerno said, broad-based coalitions of teachers,
school boards, superintendents, parents and students have been reserving buses-
and at least one chartered train- for the trip to Albany. A promotional campaign
featuring billboards and statewide newspaper and radio advertising will begin
next week, adding to the momentum among education activists. "Cuts to public
education hurt children and they hurt New York's economy," Salerno said. "Parents
of four-year-olds who value quality pre-kindergarten programs and college students
who understand the importance of a strong public university system will unite
on May 3rd. We have to make our voices heard - our state's future is riding on
it." A recent poll conducted by Peter D. Hart Research Associates shows
New Yorkers believe that the state spends too little on public education and overwhelmingly
reject Governor Pataki's proposed education cuts. The poll of 460 registered
voters found that 53 percent of voters think New York spends too little on education,
while just 10 percent believe the state spends too much. Another 24 percent say
the state spends the "right amount." And, when it comes to public higher education,
46 percent of voters said New York spends too little; 7 percent said it spends
too much; and 32 percent said the state spends the "right amount." The poll
also shows that upstate and suburban voters reject Governor Pataki's "no new taxes"
position as well. Fifty-nine percent of voters agree that, instead of cutting
funding for public schools and colleges, "we should be asking big corporations
and people with the highest incomes to help carry the load by paying their fair
share of taxes." Just 29 percent agree that "raising taxes is the wrong answer
for the state's budget problems because New Yorkers are already overtaxed and
higher taxes will kill jobs and hurt our economy." Overall, upstate and
suburban voters say they oppose the Governor's budget plan by a margin of 59 percent
to 21 percent. Republicans oppose the Governor's approach by 50 percent to 27
percent, while fully 71 percent of Democrats reject the Governor's education proposal. CONTACT:
Dennis Tompkins. (518) 213-600 ext. 6313. See also: Media
contacts of sponsoring organizations | 
