Parents In Manhattan Not Happy About Migrants Effect On Kids Education
Following City Hall’s warning of a significant influx of “thousands” of migrants into New York City’s public schools, Manhattan parents expressed apprehension about the already strained and overcrowded conditions in their children’s schools. The concerns emerged a day after the announcement, with worries centered around the potential impact on class sizes and quality of education.
Parents highlighted the current challenges their children face due to overcrowding. Last year, one second-grade class contained 28 students, many fear this number could exceed 30 or even 40 this year. The upcoming academic year will see around 18,500 children from the city’s shelter system enrolled in public schools, which includes both homeless children and migrants. However, this count does not factor in the anticipated increase in asylum-seeking children who are yet to register for school.
A significant portion of migrant families are being housed in Manhattan, particularly in Community Education Council District 2. This district, stretching from the Battery to the Upper East Side, now accommodates approximately 1,200 migrant children across its 40 schools.
Larger class sizes resulting from the influx of migrant children will diminish the amount of individual attention each student receives from teachers. This is particularly concerning for students with special needs, as teachers could find it challenging to cater to their requirements when faced with additional students.
Worth noting is that migrant children come from diverse linguistic backgrounds, necessitating extra resources for English as a Second Language instruction. Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the allocation of funds for this purpose and encouraged Spanish-speaking New Yorkers to participate in providing assistance to these new students.
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