| As the largest school district in the nation, with over a | | | | while New York City school teachers in Long Island |
| million students, the New York City Public Schools face | | | | may have a more suburban teaching experience. |
| a mammoth task. In some ways New York City | | | | Issues for New York City Schools The size of New |
| Schools are at an advantage because New York | | | | York City Schools and classrooms is an issue that has |
| State has required the stringent Regents exam as a | | | | haunted teachers for years. Most teachers agree that |
| requirement for graduation for years. That doesn't | | | | smaller class sizes are more effective for creating |
| mean that everyone in the New York City Schools is | | | | learning environments. Some students and teachers in |
| fond of the mandatory tests, but it has put the city and | | | | about 50 New York City Schools have moved into |
| state at an advantage as far as meeting some of the | | | | smaller sized school buildings. Teachers in New York |
| No Child Left Behind Act's Standards. At least | | | | City Schools say that smaller school sizes create a |
| teachers and administrators of the New York City | | | | more intimate setting, better parent-teacher |
| Schools already had some tight standards in place. | | | | relationships, and higher student achievement. |
| Teachers in New York City Schools need to have or | | | | Teachers also have a better chance of individualizing |
| obtain a Master's Degree to teach. While the New | | | | instruction when there are fewer students in a |
| York City Schools are in need of teachers, just like the | | | | classroom. While the small schools initiative was mainly |
| rest of the nation, the standards that they hold their | | | | targeted at school size, teachers try to address class |
| teachers to and the pay are among the highest in the | | | | size as well. Teacher turnover has been an issue in |
| country. That's not to say the New York City Schools | | | | many, usually poorer, New York City Schools. Coming |
| don't have problems- they do. But the New York City | | | | up with ways to keep teachers happy in these at-risk |
| Schools do have a sound foundation for hiring | | | | areas continues to be a challenge. Tenured teachers |
| teachers. Diversity of New York City Schools For | | | | often leave these for "better" schools. And turnover |
| anyone who hasn't visited the Big Apple, it's not easy | | | | itself creates issues. The teachers in the New York |
| to explain the different worlds that exist in one city. It's | | | | City Schools have a tough job by anyone's standards. |
| like the difference between the hustle and busy of | | | | And as the country looks for solutions to public |
| New York City and the rural feel of the rest of New | | | | education, New York City Schools will continue to be |
| York State- different worlds. For teachers in New | | | | watched closely. |
| York City it means that where you teach can make all | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| the difference in the world. New York City school | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and |
| teachers in Harlem will have an inner-city experience, | | | | private K-12 schools. |