, over 90% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies every year. In New York City, public school teachers are usually provided with a stipend of $250 each, but many end up spending more. Pre-pandemic, it was reported that nationally, most teachers spent about $500. As of the 2022–2023 school year, most reported spending an average of $820. In under-resourced schools, teachers digging into their own pockets for students is an “unstated expectation,” reported the NEA.
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, in partnership with Senator Roxanne J. Persaud and Councilmember Farah N. Louis, held such a giveaway this past Friday on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Kids of all backgrounds enjoyed games, free ice cream, and a rock-climbing wall after they received their free backpacks.
Velázquez also had a school safety component to her giveaway: honoring La Jara Band, a Spanish music band made up of Latino officers, with a street co-naming. The band’s mission is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and communities through music.