In an effort to increase the state’s investment in education, Stand for Children, an organization of parents working to improve the quality of public education in Massachusetts, rallied Wednesday afternoon in the Boston Commons, citing decreases in state funding each year since 2002.
A roster of 13 speakers, including students, educators and advocacy group representatives, said funding cuts have resulted in a rise in illiteracy and drop-out rates; child illness, resulting from poor building maintenance; and the elimination of art, music and athletic programs.
Calling for education funding to meet 2002 allocations, Gloucester resident and Stand for Children member Sarah Grow said Massachusetts led the nation in education funding cuts in 2002, and has since decreased funding by 10.5 percent.
The Stand for Children website indicates that Governor Mitt Romney proposed an increase in state aid for public schools to $3.5 billion for the 2007 fiscal year – an increase from the 2006 figure – but still $500 million less than funding for 2002.
“The schools are unable to provide students with supplies, textbooks and adequate staff,” said Nancy Koorapaty, who has children in kindergarten and first grade at an elementary school in North Andover. Koorapaty said the overcrowded classrooms have led teachers and administrators to encourage student absences, attempting to reduce class size and create a more manageable educational environment.
One Gloucester middle school, according to Stand for Children Massachusetts state director Meg Ansara, does not have a paid principal, and at West Parish Elementary School in Gloucester elementary school, the libraries are staffed by volunteer PTO members.
Glenn Gaudette, representing Holden for Children, said that to fund public schools in Holden, the town is considering a plan to fire 25 percent of its public officials and close institutions such as libraries and the town’s fire station.
Louise Devin, a mother of two children who attend West Parish, said the lack of resources have hindered teachers’ ability to provide students with an adequate education, citing rising illiteracy rates.
Oxford High School senior Maggie Dawidzzky represented students at the rally, saying that funding cuts have led to a shortage of text books and decreased participation in after-school activities because of districts’ inability to fund transportation.
According to Dawidzzky, students at Oxford High are at a disadvantage when it comes to applying for college because limited funds allow the school to offer only one AP class and several honors courses.
Principal of Fletcher Maynard Academy Robin Harris criticized the Massachusetts spending policies, citing a 200 percent increase in funding for incarcerations while the education funding has decreased annually.
“Educational cuts will not heal, and a Band-Aid won’t fix it,” she said.
In his closing remarks, emcee Vito Lamura called for members of Stand for Children to make appointments to meet with legislators to appeal for more education funding.
Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deval Patrick were present at the rally in addition to state representatives, parents, students, PTA members and advocacy groups such as Boston Parent Organizing Network, Neighbor to Neighbor, The Initiative for Local Aid and Citizens for Public Schools.
Rally attendees said they were somewhat discouraged with the turnout. When asked how he felt about the outcome of the rally, West Parish PTO member James Reutter said he thought the event was poorly organized.
“I think the rally was ineffective,” Reutter said. “Our goal was to have over 1,000 people standing out here, and only a few hundred showed. Fewer speakers and an organized march up the steps of the Statehouse to protest would have been more effective.”