Prior to the release of the test results, there were a number of articles in the New York Post , the right-wing Murdoch tabloid, supporting Giuliani's contention that the problem was the public education system and inadequate teachers, and that good money should not be thrown after bad. According to Giuliani and company, everything but the lack of funding is responsible. A report issued by the United States Department of Education in March of 1999 summarized the results of numerous studies done on the subject of class size, and has concluded that it does make a difference. What is most interesting in this paper is that it takes into account all of the studies that show no correlation between class size and academic performance. Indeed, those who criticize funding for public education have used many of these studies as supporting evidence for their cause.
Teachers know from experience the value of individual attention in educating a child.
They also recognize that the economic environment in which children are raised plays a critical role. The report showed a correlation between test results and family income in New York City. Furthermore, the actual student-teacher ratio figures are revealing. Nationwide, it is 17.3 to 1, and for the elementary schools throughout New York state it is 22.6 to 1, while for New York City the elementary school ratio is 28 to 1. In other words, those children who need educational financing the most get the least.