Meaningless Meetings

Klein made his 5th trip to Queens to sell Bloomberg's "Fair Student Funding" plan, according to an article in this weeks Queens Courier. At the two hour long meeting, he told parents the DOE would be sending out surveys for every one of the 1.1 million children in the City's school. He said that unlike previous surveys, the responses would go directly to the DOE, instead of principals. The results would be included in the new Achievement Reporting and Innovation System so that teachers, principals, and parent groups would have up-to-date information.

The parents at this meeting had their own agenda and gave him an earful. They asked about funding for schools with more experienced, higher paid teachers. He claimed provisions will be made for this. When asked about smaller classes, he replied that good teacher are more important than small classes. A child is better off in a class of 25 with a good teacher than a class of 17 with a bad teacher. The last time I checked my rosters, I saw 5 classes with 34 kids each, a far cry from his 25.

Klein went on making excuse after excuse for poor decisions for such things as empowered principals and the DOE's busing problems. Martine Guerrier, the city's first Chief Family Engagement Officer was with him. He is already making excuses as to why she will not be able to be successful. Borough President Helen Marshall expressed concern that despite a staff of 1400 and a $50 million budget "things were going to come down on her."

Too bad Klein and Bloomberg are just too bullheaded to admit that a fix that will work is smaller classes.