Unions: Save our public schools

To the editor:

If the Lorax can speak for the trees, certainly our union can speak for New York City public school students.

The systemic chopping down of our public schools — which provide equity for all children — has to end. 

And as United Federation of Teachers president Michael Mulgrew states: “New York’s charter school experiment has led to some promising innovations, but as a group, New York City charter schools have become a separate and unequal branch of public education, working with a far smaller proportion of our neediest students than the average public school.”

The UFT has not just begun advocating for all children. As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, its belief that teachers want what students need continues. Equity for all children is paramount. Therefore, when Mulgrew speaks of the neediest students like his predecessors (Cogen, Shanker, Feldman and Weingarten), he champions the right of all children in special education, bilingual education and general education to have access to a quality education.

The wanton closing of city public schools created by Pro “Once-lers” — aka Educrats in the charter-making business — must end. We need to fix and not close our public schools.

Our public school system worked for our earlier immigrants like Henry Kissinger. It must continue to work for all students today.

It’s elementary.

Phyllis C. Murray