Parents, teachers unions concerned after Cuomo's comments on Bill Gates, distance learning
ALBANY NY (WRGB) - Teachers, parents and unions are reacting to Governor Cuomo's comments from earlier this week on Distance Learning.
“All these buildings, all these physical classrooms... why? With all the technology we have, and we've been exploring different alternatives with technology right?” Cuomo said Tuesday.
COVID-19 caused the State to move classes to online platforms like Zoom, but the Governor's comments about possibly replacing physical classrooms with technology have both families and educators pushing back.
April Decker is a mom of three from Colonie. She reached out to CBS6’s Anne McCloy after hearing Governor Cuomo's comments on education this week.
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“I don’t like the way it's set up. I just feel like it's a recipe for failure for a lot of kids,” Decker said.
She doesn't believe Distance Learning should become the new normal in New York.
“Kids aren't getting what they need, they are starting to regress. You have maybe average students or below average students who are passing their grade, but maybe not doing very well and those kids are just going to fall further behind and eventually drop out,” Decker said.
The Governor's comments also floored Jesse Calhoun.
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“I was just like Holy cow that sends a chill down my spine, because who defines what the new normal is? We are still learning about the virus, what the impact is,” Calhoun said.
Calhoun ran for NYS Assembly on the Republican ticket four years ago, now he is the General Manager of School of Rock Albany. He says music teachers can't give kids a full education through an I-pad.
“There's a lot of problems that come with remote learning because you can’t sink up a band and jam, you can’t play music altogether really on Zoom,” Calhoun said.
New York State United Teachers are also pushing back on the Governor's comments.
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Andrew Pallotta is President of NYSUT.
“Shocked, shocked, that this is what would be in his mind,” Pallotta said.
The union is especially concerned that the Governor is involving Bill and Melinda Gates with “reimagining” the State education system.
“We have a very bad history with Bill Gates in this state. It was his idea of tying evaluations with testing and the Common Core. Not the person we would expect the Governor to say, hey join us. You would think his first outreach would be to teachers,” Pallotta said.
CBS 6’s Anne McCloy reached out to Governor Cuomo's Office for comment on these concerns, she did not hear back by news time on her specific questions.
After we reached out to the Governor's office, this afternoon his office put out a news release, announcing the members of his Reimagine Education Advisory Council that will include lower and higher education teachers, including the Superintendent of Albany schools, the President of the Guilderland School Board and the Master Teacher from South Colonie, among others.
