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Mayor's Message:
Pay Our Teachers What They Deserve
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Dear Jazz,
As you read this, a science teacher is explaining how stars are formed to a bright-eyed astronaut in the making; a history teacher is describing the branches of government to a future President, an English teacher is correcting the grammar of a future bestselling author recently arrived with her parents from Guatemala, a health teacher is patiently explaining anatomy to a one-day lifesaving surgeon, a gym teacher is running drills with a future Olympic gold medal winner, and a music teacher is helping a one day Grammy winner hit his notes for the Spring recital. Our teachers provide the foundations for who we will be; they shape our minds, open doors for the careers we will love, and paint the future with endless possibilities regardless of where we come from or who we are. The power of education cannot be understated. Teachers deserve our utmost admiration and gratitude; instead, our society exploits and disrespects them with low wages, a lack of resources, and often adverse working conditions.
Only our most giving, dedicated, and patient have what it takes to be an educator. To be a persistent advocate and determined motivator as you help students fulfill their potential is no small feat. In urban areas like Plainfield, our public teachers repeatedly give more than should be asked of them. They assume multiple roles as educators, social workers, mental health providers, advocates, support systems, and role models rolled into one. And while teaching is an incredibly honorable career, it can also be one of the most draining jobs you can have – all made worse by unfair wages and overwhelming expectations.
The additional responsibilities that are being asked of our teachers are forcing them out of the career they loved and trained for. Now in many states, educators are leading the fight against racist, homophobic, and discriminatory book banning and classroom censorship that can leave them in jail for speaking their minds. Educators nationwide have been told that they must be prepared to lay down their lives for their students in the event of mass shootings, which have sadly become a norm in our country. And educators are giving our children everything they can and spending their own money on school supplies even as they barely make enough to pay their rent.
Many of us would not be where we are without the guidance and care of a teacher that came into our lives and showed us the possibilities, but we need to stop expecting teachers to go above and beyond for our children without complaint while they get paid in pennies and dimes. We must stop being surprised and outraged when classes are canceled due to a teacher shortage as our recently graduated teachers struggle to pay their student loans on time. And we need to stop wondering why so many educators are leaving the profession, resulting in understaffed schools and underserved students, when we fail to provide them with the support they need. Let me make clear that the blame for our current crisis in education does not lie with those demanding better work conditions for themselves but rather with those unwilling to pay teachers what they deserve or provide them with what they need. Their inaction has very real consequences for millions of children.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, eighteen (18) percent of public schools had one teaching vacancy, and twenty-seven (27) percent had multiple teaching vacancies at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. These percentages are higher in high-poverty schools and districts with high-minority student populations. The top three teaching positions with the highest vacancy rates in public schools were special education, English as a Second Language or bilingual education, and computer science. These vacancies leave students that require the most assistance behind their peers and unable to advocate for themselves.
Teachers aren’t “just babysitters.” They are dream makers, career strategists, community leaders, support systems, and more. Their knowledge holds the wisdom of our past and the possibilities of our future. The reality is that there is no future without our educators. Let’s make it as clear as we need to: an attack on our teachers is an attack on our students. If our children deserve the absolute best, then so do their teachers. We need to pay our teachers more and give them the support and respect they deserve.
#LovePlainfield #AmoPlainfield
Creating One Plainfield. One Future.
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp
City of Plainfield
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Mensaje Del Alcalde:
Necesitamos Pagar a Nuestros Maestros Lo Que Se Merecen
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Queridx Jazz,
Mientras lees esto, un profesor de ciencias está explicando cómo se forman las estrellas a un futuro astronauta de ojos brillantes; un profesor de historia está describiendo las formas del gobierno a un futuro presidente, un profesor de inglés está corrigiendo la gramática de una futura autora famosa recién llegada con sus padres de Guatemala, un profesor de salud está explicando pacientemente anatomía a un estudiante que algún día será un cirujano que salvavidas, un profesor de gimnasia está practicando ejercicios con un futuro ganador de la medalla de oro olímpica, y un profesor de música está ayudando a un estudiante que un dia ganará un Grammy a tocar sus notas para el recital de primavera. Nuestros maestros proporcionan las bases de lo que seremos; dan forma a nuestras mentes, abren puertas para las carreras que amaremos y pintan el futuro con infinitas posibilidades sin importar de dónde venimos o quiénes somos. El poder de la educación no puede ser subestimado. Los maestros merecen nuestra mayor admiración y gratitud; en cambio, nuestra sociedad los explota y les falta el respeto con salarios bajos, falta de recursos y, a menudo, condiciones laborales adversas.
Solo nuestros más generosos, dedicados y pacientes tienen lo que se necesita para ser un educador. Ser un defensor persistente y un motivador decidido mientras ayuda a los estudiantes a alcanzar su potencial no es poca cosa. En áreas urbanas como Plainfield, nuestros maestros públicos repetidamente dan más de lo que se les debe pedir. Asumen múltiples roles como educadores, trabajadores sociales, proveedores de salud mental, defensores, sistemas de apoyo y modelos a seguir, todo en uno. Y si bien la enseñanza es una carrera increíblemente honorable, también puede ser uno de los trabajos más agotadores que puede tener, todo empeorado por salarios injustos y expectativas abrumadoras.
Las responsabilidades adicionales que se les piden a nuestros maestros los están obligando a abandonar la carrera que amaban y para la que se capacitaron. Ahora, en muchos estados, los educadores están liderando la lucha contra la prohibición de libros racista, homofóbica y discriminatoria y la censura en el aula que puede llevarlos a la cárcel por decir lo que piensan. Los educadores de todo el país se les ha dicho que deben estar preparados para dar la vida por sus alumnos en caso de tiroteos masivos, que lamentablemente se han convertido en una norma en nuestro país. Y los educadores están dando a nuestros hijos todo lo que pueden y gastando su propio dinero en útiles escolares, incluso cuando apenas ganan lo suficiente para pagar el alquiler.
Muchos de nosotros no estaríamos donde estamos sin la guía y el cuidado de un maestro que llegó a nuestras vidas y nos mostró las posibilidades, pero debemos dejar de esperar que los maestros hagan todo lo posible por nuestros hijos sin quejarse mientras se les paga centavos. Debemos dejar de sorprendernos e indignarnos cuando las clases se cancelan debido a la escasez de maestros, ya que nuestros maestros recién graduados luchan por pagar sus préstamos estudiantiles a tiempo. Y debemos dejar de preguntarnos por qué tantos educadores están dejando la profesión, lo que resulta en escuelas con poco personal y estudiantes desatendidos, cuando no les brindamos el apoyo que necesitan. Permítanme aclarar que la culpa de nuestra actual crisis en la educación no es de quienes exigen mejores condiciones de trabajo para sí mismos, sino de quienes no están dispuestos a pagarles a los maestros lo que se merecen o proporcionarles lo que necesitan. Su inacción tiene consecuencias muy reales para millones de niños.
Según el Centro Nacional de Estadísticas Educativas, el dieciocho (18) por ciento de las escuelas públicas tenían una vacante docente y el veintisiete (27) por ciento tenía múltiples vacantes docentes al comienzo del año escolar 2022-2023. Estos porcentajes son más altos en escuelas de alta pobreza y distritos con poblaciones estudiantiles de alta minoría. Los tres principales puestos docentes con las tasas de vacantes más altas en las escuelas públicas fueron educación especial, inglés como segundo idioma o educación bilingüe e informática. Estas vacantes dejan a los estudiantes que requieren más ayuda detrás de sus compañeros y no pueden defenderse por sí mismos.
Los maestros no son “solo niñeras”. Son creadores de sueños, estrategas profesionales, líderes comunitarios, sistemas de apoyo y más. Su conocimiento contiene la sabiduría de nuestro pasado y las posibilidades de nuestro futuro. La realidad es que no hay futuro sin nuestros educadores. Dejémoslo tan claro como sea necesario: un ataque a nuestros maestros es un ataque a nuestros estudiantes. Si nuestros niños merecen lo mejor de lo mejor, entonces también lo merecen sus maestros. Necesitamos pagarles más a nuestros maestros y darles el apoyo y el respeto que se merecen.
#LovePlainfield #AmoPlainfield
Creating One Plainfield. One Future.
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Alcalde Adrian O. Mapp
Ciudad de Plainfield
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Haitian Flag Raising Ceremony | |
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Join us as we raise the Haitian Flag over Plainfield to celebrate
Haitian Heritage Month!
Monday, May 22nd at 6PM
Black Lives Matter Plaza,
515 Watchung Avenue
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PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE
NJ STATE BICYCLE CHAMPIONSHIP
(Click on image for full size flyer)
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YOU ARE INVITED TO
THE QUEEN CITY STREET FAIR
(Click on image for full size flyer)
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THE
QUEEN CITY ART STATION FESTIVAL
(Click on image for full size flyer)
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Do You Know What's Happening in your City?
Click the Image below and take a look at Plainfield's Latest City Events, Community Resources, and so much more!
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¿ How Do You Show Love for Plainfield? | |
A MESSAGE FROM
UNION COUNTY:
Union County Voters Can View their Sample Ballots Online for the June 6 Primary Election
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Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi advises voters that they can view their sample ballots for the June 6 Primary Election online at the County Clerk’s elections website, unioncountyvotes.com. In addition, voters will receive a printed copy of their sample ballot in the mail.
Sample ballots will be mailed out approximately two weeks before Election Day.
As a reminder, four municipalities have been reassigned to a new legislative district, resulting from redistricting in New Jersey after the 2020 Census. Cranford and Roselle Park are now District 22, Hillside is District 28, and Kenilworth is District 20.
For more information about the County Clerk’s election services visit unioncountyvotes.com or contact the Elections Division at 908-527-4996 or ucvote@ucnj.org.
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A MESSAGE FROM
THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY:
Governor Murphy Signs Joint Resolution Establishing “Day of the Girl” in New Jersey
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TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today signed a joint resolution SJR21/AJR167, designating October 11 of each year as the “Day of the Girl” in New Jersey. This joint resolution intends to raise public awareness about the "International Day of the Girl Child" and galvanize the support of New Jersey’s residents and community-based organizations to better girls' lives and provide them with equal opportunities to reach their full potential. The signing of this joint resolution underscores the Murphy Administration’s commitment to ensuring the participation, inclusion, and empowerment of New Jersey’s girls and women in all aspects of society.
“I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and the work we will continue to do to ensure that every girl and young woman knows that her future in New Jersey is limitless,” said Governor Murphy. “It is critical that in our pursuits to eradicate gender-based discrimination, we raise awareness about the many injustices faced by girls around the world. By establishing “Day of the Girl,” we recommit to removing roadblocks and dedicating the necessary resources so that our nation’s future leaders have the tools they need to succeed.”
“It is my core belief that everyone is born with God-given ability, but not everyone is born into a situation where they can fully cultivate their ability. Therefore, initiatives like the ‘Day of the Girl’ are important because they illuminate inequities that exist for girls and empower girls to advocate for equal opportunities, especially in education, so they can reach their full potential,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver. “This initiative also encourages girls to take pride in who they are and to dream big because big dreams lead to big achievements.”
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A MESSAGE FROM
THE WHITE HOUSE:
Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Tackle Nation’s Mental Health Crisis
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Actions include $200 million to scale up 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and new resources for school-based mental health services
This Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor all those experiencing mental health challenges and celebrate the mental health professionals, families, and caregivers who support them. It is clear that our country is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis impacting people of all ages. In 2021, two in five American adults reported experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression and forty-four percent of high school students reported struggling with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, social media, and gun violence. The Biden-Harris Administration is firmly committed to addressing this crisis.
As part of his Unity Agenda, President Biden released a comprehensive national strategy to transform how mental health is understood, accessed, treated, and integrated in and out of health care settings. Across the federal government, thanks to the President’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), the Administration has already invested unprecedented levels of funding to expand access to mental health services. The President’s FY24 budget goes further, proposing tens of billions more to transform behavioral health services for all Americans.
Today, which is recognized as Mental Health Day of Action, and throughout Mental Health Awareness Month, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing additional critical actions to advance the President’s mental health strategy across its three key objectives: strengthening the mental health workforce and system capacity, connecting more Americans to care, and creating a continuum of support.
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HELP US TAKE CARE OF OUR CITY!
DOWNLOAD THE REPORT- IT APP
Available in IOS and Android Mobile Phones
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Exercise your civic duty-- be the eyes and ears of our City! Your reports can greatly increase the quality of life in our Plainfield community. Let's work together to keep our city safe- If you see it, say it with ReportIt. | |
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Use the app, or text
reportit to 63975
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Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and the City of Plainfield are committed to making it as easy as possible to report concerns in our city. To that end, we've partnered with REPORT IT, which is now live in Plainfield and ready to be used as an important supplemental reporting tool.
Report it makes community reporting easier than ever! Residents and visitors can download the app by scanning the barcode above or by going to your phone's app store. Your reports will be submitted to the appropriate City department to be resolved.
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Call us at: 908.753.3015 or
E:communications@plainfieldnj.gov
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|THE CITY OF PLAINFIELD NJ|
515 WATCHUNG AVENUE | 908-753-3310| MONDAY-FRIDAY | 9 A.M.- 5 P.M.|
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Creating One Plainfield. One Future. | | | | |
