Chancellor Klein has announced a series of initiatives acknowledging that schools need to retool and innovate to prepare students for the 21st century.   So while the school system is now seriously exploring the role of technology to advance education,  (something I care deeply about)  the MTA is effectively eliminating the19th century technology that makes it possible for poor students to get to schools of choice…(the train)       

The MTA has announced budget cuts that will eliminate the free metro-pass for students, requiring families to fork over $80+ dollars per child per month (think $240 dollars for a family of three) to go to school!  Is this a pre- Brown vs Board of Education policy or what?

Choice in schools is a fundamental part of the New York City education deal. Students apply to middle and high schools and travel long distances to get opportunities not available to them locally.  

The MTA’s mission is not education.  Why then do they have control over this mission-critical educational budget item? 

The impact on poor students is devastating.   I, for one, would pay double for a metro card to see this cut taken off the table.  In fact, the first student that reads this blog and proves that he or she can no longer afford to get to a school of choice because he or she can’t afford it … can get the metro card on me… at least until they change this beyond idiotic, short-sighted education disaster of a policy.   And if this is just politics… and scare tactics… it worked on me.  Raise my taxes.

lguastaferro@teachingmatters.org