General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAs NYC Slashes School Budgets, Art Teachers Are Feeling the Squeeze
On June 13, Paul Trust was called into the principals office at the PS 39 elementary school in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where he had taught music for over a decade.
In the meeting, the schools administration told Trust that his job was in jeopardy and letting him go was the worst-case scenario. But after the principal met with the Borough Central Office to discuss her 2023 budget, that scenario became the reality: Trust would be excessed, or laid off from his position. And the school told its only other music teacher Nick Deutsch, who had been there for six years, the same thing, effectively eliminating its music department.
PS 39 was forced to decrease spending by 14%, one of approximately 1,200 district schools in New York 77% of the citys total that were told to cut their budget by a specific dollar amount after Mayor Eric Adams slashed school funding by over $200 million. The cuts are tied to enrollment declines, which the majority of NYC schools experienced over the course of the pandemic. Budget decisions are at the discretion of the schools principals, and arts departments, already under-funded despite representing a core academic subject, are not protected.
Any time there are funding cuts, the arts are usually the first to get trimmed, Mario Asaro, head of the NYC Art Teachers Association, told Hyperallergic. I cant see how that wont affect music and art and other special subjects.
https://hyperallergic.com/744466/nyc-slashes-school-budgets-art-teachers-are-feeling-the-squeeze/
jimfields33
(15,703 posts)They may need to change the funding rule that state a certain amount to the school per student. Until enrollment rises, budgets will be slashed.
Ferrets are Cool
(21,104 posts)Karma13612
(4,544 posts)Maybe there could be some collaborations between the schools and local art councils. Communities could come together and have classes using the art teachers whos hours have been cut or their jobs eliminated.
Back in early June, I cleared out my studio a bit and took a bunch of art supplies to our local school and gave to the art teacher. She was so grateful, and it was great knowing that the supplies would be used by budding artists.
We need to do whatever it takes to make sure young people are given a chance to try different styles of art and explore their potential.