ALBANY, N.Y. October 18, 2010 - New York State United Teachers is launching a statewide ad campaign to underscore what most New Yorkers inherently believe: The vast majority of public schools are succeeding and that support and investment - not half-truths and election-year gimmicks - are what’s needed to build up communities and keep public education strong.
NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi said the two-week, $250,000 campaign - which begins Tuesday with radio and newspaper ads in every corner of the state - thanks New Yorkers for their continued support for public education, even in the face of bad economic news and an election season replete with attacks and simplistic solutions to complex educational and societal problems.
“New York’s public education system is among the best anywhere. Across the state, involved parents and caring, dedicated teachers committed to excellence are working as partners to ensure that students are well-prepared for college and good jobs in the workplace,” Iannuzzi said. “We must be careful not to become so focused on what’s wrong with public education that we lose sight of all that is right with public education.”
The radio spots remind New Yorkers that homebuyers and business owners value good schools and that, “New York has public schools and colleges we can be proud of. They prepare our students to be informed citizens and to compete in a high-tech, global economy.”
In a reference to the near-record pass rate for school budgets in May, and a new report by the Pew Center of the States that found 6 in 10 New Yorkers would pay higher taxes to protect education from cuts, the ads also thank New Yorkers for their longstanding support, noting: “Together, we can give our kids a brighter future and build stronger communities, for all of us.”
*To hear the NYSUT radio ad, click on link in right column.
NYSUT, the state’s largest union, represents some 600,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; faculty and other professionals 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, National Education Association and AFL-CIO.