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| NYSUT President: Voucher scheme shows "contempt for kids" Feb. 14, 2006 ALBANY, N.Y. February 14, 2006 — NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi today criticized Governor Pataki for continuing to defy the court in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, in which a Supreme Court justice ordered the state to adopt the funding plan developed by a panel of special masters. "His so-called 'education tax credit' is nothing more than a Trojan horse: a backdoor voucher scheme that would drain $400 million from our struggle to provide every student a sound, basic education," Iannuzzi said. "The governor's proposal shows contempt for New York's courts and New York's kids," Iannuzzi said. "The governor is ignoring the court's order in the Campaign for Fiscal Equity case, and instead he's pandering to primary voters in New Hampshire and Iowa. I guess he's lost whatever interest he had in New York and New York 's children." Iannuzzi said the lack of accountability in the governor's voucher plan is striking. "It's ironic that at a time when public schools are under unrelenting scrutiny — and every single test score is published — the governor wants to give $400 million in education spending to private and religious schools with not a cent of accountability," Iannuzzi said. "New Yorkers have the right to know exactly how their tax dollars are being spent." Iannuzzi noted that private and religious schools are not required to publish test scores, hold public meetings or put budgets up for a vote. "They also have the option of rejecting students with learning disabilities or physical handicaps, or students who are struggling academically," Iannuzzi said. "Public schools are open to all students. And the governor should be providing opportunity to all students." Iannuzzi stressed that, while NYSUT strongly opposed the governor's voucher plan, it respects parents' educational choices. " We respect and value the right of parents to choose a non-public school for their children, but they shouldn't do it with taxpayer dollars," he said. NYSUT, the largest union in New York state, represents more than 525,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; academic and professional faculty at the state’s community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. |
For More Information
CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org. |
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