By ANA PHELAN, age 9
Throughout the United States, public schools are being shut down in various cities, officials say, to save money. They claim that the schools being shut down have too few students attending and are producing low test scores. But shutting down schools can have a lot of impact to students. Kid Reporter Ana Phelan asked her classmates at PS 146, the Brooklyn New School, the following question about school closures: If you were a student at one of the schools being shut down, what would you do?
PHOTO: Kya Parris
Kya Parris, age 9 – “I would protest. I would make a sign that would read, “My school has been shut down because of low test scores, and I don’t think it’s right, kids should not be treated badly because of how they do on tests.” I would also write to the Mayor and tell him it’s not fair to close schools due to test scores. If you have to shut down a school, it should be because the school is dirty, kids are getting sick or the kids are being mistreated, not because of small classes or test scores. I am a kid, not a test score!”
PHOTO: Ava Galindez
Ava Galindez, age 9 – “I would write a letter to the school asking them to change their minds, because of how much the school meant to me and leaving it would be really sad. If the letter didn’t work I would ask my mom to email all the parents in the school to tell the school how important THIS school is to the students. When they shut down schools they are breaking friendships of innocent kids, because school is what starts your friendship, not what ends it. To people who are reading, I hope you understand how many hearts are being broken because of this and I hope you try to make a change.”
PHOTO: A.R.
A.R., age 9 – “I would write a letter to the Department of Education in NYC. If there are fewer students in these schools maybe that’s a good thing because you could make smaller classes, which are better for learning, and that could mean great leaders for NYC. The schools are producing low test scores because they need more support so that kids can get a better education. I have realized that what pushes the government in NYC to make decisions is to put them under pressure and I think that it would make a big impact on the issue if lots of other people sent letters as well!”
