Can members of the City Council really understand our troubled schools if they send their kids to private schools? That question is once again front and center in the race to succeed Councilman Bill DeBlasio to represent the 39rd District, which stretches from Cobble Hill through Park Slope to Kensington.
Brad Lander
I am a proud public school parent, with two kids at PS 107 in Park Slope, where my wife has served on the school leadership team. We’re lucky to see first-hand what works: small classes, a great principal, dedicated teachers, and active parents. Access to quality public education is fundamental to democracy. So our schools need real champions in public office — people who have shown that they’ll fight for what our kids need: A high-quality, neighborhood elementary school, more teaching and less testing, genuine parent involvement, real support for teachers, greener, healthier schools.
I am a proud public school parent, with two kids at PS 107 in Park Slope, where my wife has served on the school leadership team. We’re lucky to see first-hand what works: small classes, a great principal, dedicated teachers, and active parents. Access to quality public education is fundamental to democracy. So our schools need real champions in public office — people who have shown that they’ll fight for what our kids need: A high-quality, neighborhood elementary school, more teaching and less testing, genuine parent involvement, real support for teachers, greener, healthier schools.
The five-man race features some childless candidates (Bob Zuckerman, John Heyer and Gary Reilly) and two candidates who had or have school-age kids (Brad Lander and Josh Skaller) and have certainly made an issue of it during the campaign.
Gary Reilly
Mia and I haven’t had children yet, but we are both products of public schools from kindergarten straight through college and in my case law school. I am absolutely committed to public education and if we are blessed to have a family, our children will absolutely attend public school. I don’t think it’s my place to insist that any elected official send their kids to a public school. What’s more important to me is that elected officials establish policies that preserve and improve our public education system, and protect our system from being cannibalized by private institutions and charter schools.
Mia and I haven’t had children yet, but we are both products of public schools from kindergarten straight through college and in my case law school. I am absolutely committed to public education and if we are blessed to have a family, our children will absolutely attend public school. I don’t think it’s my place to insist that any elected official send their kids to a public school. What’s more important to me is that elected officials establish policies that preserve and improve our public education system, and protect our system from being cannibalized by private institutions and charter schools.
Here’s how the group answered the question embodied in the opening sentence:
Josh Skaller
I have been an educator for years and I come from a family of educators. Kelly, my wife, teaches in Brooklyn public schools, and she loves her work and her job. Both of us have a deep commitment to the public schools. The selection of our child’s school was a serious, difficult and personal issue, and we chose to send our son, Wolf, to a neighborhood private school based on his unique needs. He is now 8 years old. Every child deserves a quality education. I support giving our public schools the resources they need to succeed, and I support the individual choices that parents all over Brooklyn make when raising their children. As Councilmember, I will work to guarantee parents have a real voice in schools, and I will fight to end the minefield of mind-numbing standardized tests.
I have been an educator for years and I come from a family of educators. Kelly, my wife, teaches in Brooklyn public schools, and she loves her work and her job. Both of us have a deep commitment to the public schools. The selection of our child’s school was a serious, difficult and personal issue, and we chose to send our son, Wolf, to a neighborhood private school based on his unique needs. He is now 8 years old. Every child deserves a quality education. I support giving our public schools the resources they need to succeed, and I support the individual choices that parents all over Brooklyn make when raising their children. As Councilmember, I will work to guarantee parents have a real voice in schools, and I will fight to end the minefield of mind-numbing standardized tests.
Bob Zuckerman
Decisions regarding a child’s education are among the most important parents face. Although I am not a parent, my partner and I have discussed raising a child together. It is not for me to judge a parent’s decision about the type of school his or her child attends. However, I'm a product of the public school system, and there's no doubt that public education continues to be the great equalizer of our society. Here in the 39th District, we are fortunate to have some of the finest public schools in the city. Of course, I recognize that as schools grow, challenges and frustrations grow, too. As our next Councilmember, I will lead the fight to increase spending for more schools, advocate for greater parental involvement, and support innovative efforts for school improvement. With the right leadership in the Council, we can continue the proud tradition of producing great New Yorkers from our great public schools.
Decisions regarding a child’s education are among the most important parents face. Although I am not a parent, my partner and I have discussed raising a child together. It is not for me to judge a parent’s decision about the type of school his or her child attends. However, I'm a product of the public school system, and there's no doubt that public education continues to be the great equalizer of our society. Here in the 39th District, we are fortunate to have some of the finest public schools in the city. Of course, I recognize that as schools grow, challenges and frustrations grow, too. As our next Councilmember, I will lead the fight to increase spending for more schools, advocate for greater parental involvement, and support innovative efforts for school improvement. With the right leadership in the Council, we can continue the proud tradition of producing great New Yorkers from our great public schools.
