You Know My Steez

Only in New York would a handful of musicians, actors, politicians, journalists, philanthropists and activists be eating dinner together. And not in a restaurant.

I had the opportunity to attend a dinner hosted by the Atlantic Monthly, to watch the State of the Union address last Tuesday. Afterwords a few of the attendees, mostly politicians, commented on the President’s speech. Among some of the guests were ex-governors, correspondents (like ABC News’ John Stossel), Eliot Spitzer (yes, for real) and NYC School Chancellor Joel Klein.

Joel Klein stood up to speak about Obama’s pledged commitment to education, and stressed the importance of investment in charter schools. I’m not sure what lit a fire under my ass (maybe because I was sitting in a room full of self-congratulatory public servants, or because of my selfish need for attention), but I proceeded to talk loudly over Mr. Klein, and then raise my hand impatiently. I think I meant to ask him a question, but I panicked (this was not, after all, a Town Hall meeting). I started rambling on about how I went to public school until seventh grade, and I was laughed at my first year in private school for not knowing what a beaker was. My voice cracked so badly, most people probably thought I was about to cry (I have a penchant for the dramatic). The moderator got the discussion back on track, and I was left to stew about how wildly inarticulate I had been in the presence of so many articulate professionals.

As we were leaving, I chased down Joel Klein to apologize for interrupting him. I regretted sounding like I was against him, after all he wasn’t chancellor when I was in school. I explained that I just get worked up about the state of our public schools, considering how expensive it is to live in this city. He asked me to write down my email address, which I assumed was a polite dismissal.

I was nothing short of surprised when I discovered a message from him in my inbox the next morning, especially considering my handwriting is entirely illegible (not the fault of public education, by the by). I sat at my computer, regretful that I had not brought a muzzle to the dinner, when lo and behold, Joel Klein had contacted me. So I responded and we started a short dialogue about how charter schools are good, and I mentioned one in particular that I visited where the teachers were enthusiastic and energetic. He agreed that the schools need better materials and equipment (like the beaker I never saw in the science class that didn’t exist). He reminded me that the Bloomberg administration has invested $8 billion in education, while trying to cut wasteful bureaucratic spending (okay, checkmate).

And he finished by saying, “Keep in touch from time to time. I like your fire.”
It’s a good thing I forgot the muzzle after all.

Now that you’ve got me started on NYC schools:

I actually think Joel Klein is on the track to improving our schools, by supporting charter schools that have their own training programs, and cutting down on wasteful spending. He’s also changed the system so that funding follows the individual student. But even the schools that show good test results (like P.S. 234) are overcrowded. (And why is P.S. 234 performing well? High property taxes in TriBeCa? Maybe. More important, only a select income bracket can live in that neighborhood and therefore send their kids to 234).

Despite its shortcomings, I am grateful for the years I spent at P.S.3, and the public middle school I attended (until my mom realized I was learning more about how fake nails are useful in a fight, and that doorknocker earrings are a bitch if someone decides to grab them with the aforementioned fake nails). My elementary school was incredibly diverse, and I had classmates from all walks of life. We were a group of various races, economic backgrounds, children of immigrants, of liberals and conservatives, and sometimes children of two men or two women. I am thankful that in those formative years, it wasn’t just that I was exposed to so much, but that we were a diverse community. That the school felt accepting and cohesive is a testament to the dedication of the Principal at the time (John Meltzer-who has since had the school named in his honor).

I don’t pretend to know more about how to fix our schools than the people whose job it is to improve them (particularly Joel Klein, who gave up a high paying job to become school chancellor). But let’s face it, the cost of living in this city is remarkable, especially in Manhattan, and you have upper middle class parents competing to get their children into private schools before they are out of the womb. I don’t even have kids, and I’m already worried about where I can send them.