It's often the case that when budgets begin to get tighter and funds become more precious, school funding is the first to take a hit. Take New York schools, for instance. Mayor Bloomberg has announced drastic education cuts that are going to hit the city's schools hard.

At least $324 million in cuts have been announced for the coming school year. Not only that, at least $100 million in surprise cuts have been announced this school year. The surprise cut was the unkindest cut of all, no pun intended. A number of school principals at New York schools all across the city received a circular announcing that times were hard, and that city agencies would have to take funding cuts. This included the city's schools.

Cutting Education Funding for New York Schools is Short Sighted

It is not hard to understand the reason for the cuts, and it is a fact that the City has been struggling to keep a tight rein on its finances. But cutting funds to New York schools that will produce the city's future residents and leaders is not the solution. There must be other ways to cap spending and still stay within budget. Cutting funds to New York schools seems like a short sighted decision that is bound to have severe repercussions on the city's health in the years to come.

This action by Mayor Bloomberg has prompted a group of parents, educators, concerned citizens' groups and education advocacy rights to form the Promises Coalition which is protesting any proposed cuts in funding. On the 19th of March 2008, hundreds of parents and other members of the Coalition marched in protest against the proposed cuts in funding to them.

The cuts are especially hard to bear, because they come from the seal of Mayor Bloomberg who had made several promises to increase the number of new schools, build a greater number of classrooms and introduce full day pre kindergarten classes. He had also promised to retain English Language Learner Services programs in New York schools and had promised to decrease the sizes of classrooms. The English Language Learner program is not a luxury, but a necessity in this multicultural city, and yet it seems that this program could be discarded under the onslaught from funding cuts.

The after schools tutoring program at New York schools that has been such a boon to working parents who can't afford to be home when their kids arrive home from school also looks set to stop receiving funding. These cuts are expected to hit those New York schools which have a high percentage of low income and English language Learner students the hardest. That's hardly a surprise.

It's sad that the city has taken such a myopic view of the importance of education in the grater scheme of things. When funding is cut, schools choke, and before long, begin to slip into decline. One hopes for the sake of New York schools students, that better sense will prevail.