In our last poll, we asked how you felt about the closing of 19 city schools. It turns out that a strong majority -- 61% -- feel that schools should be fixed rather than shut. Another 11% felt that some deserve to be closed, but others do not. Just 16% said all 19 schools are bad and should be shut down.
Our poll results stand in contrast to assertions by education officials and others that those who oppose the closings are just a noisy minority. An editorial in the Daily News said most of the closing opponents who attended the hearings of the Panel for Educational Policy were bused in by the teacher's union. It suggested that the "best measure of what mothers and fathers feel about particular schools is how many of them hope to enroll their children," concluding that because relatively few parents ranked the schools now slated for closure as their first choice on high school applications, they "have no such backing because parents want far better."
All parents want better schools. In fact, many people visit Insideschools.org because they are actively seeking out good schools. And, a clear majority of those who voted say troubled schools should be fixed not shut. What does that tell you? Please share your thoughts below.
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