NYC-Feature Story

Hands Off Our MetroCards!
Protect NYC's students from this bad economy

By Jan Nicole Garcia

“The economy? Who cares?” Many high school students have been thinking this since the U.S. economy—and many economies worldwide—hit a recession in 2008. When my teachers talked about the economy, I wasn’t interested because I didn’t think it had anything to do with me. That all changed when the city started talking about cutting free MetroCards for students. Now, there aren’t many New York City teens who aren’t at least a little concerned about the economy.

I haven’t always taken free MetroCards for granted. I am from Mexico, where families invest a lot of money in education from the time their children are small. To get into any school, even an elementary school, you must pay tuition. Parents must also pay for their children’s transportation to school, whether they take the school bus or a taxi. (Luckily, transportation in Mexico is cheaper than here.) In every school a uniform is required, and you need to pay for that, too. When I was in school in Mexico, I also had to bring lunch money every day or I would have starved.

After my experience with public school in Mexico, coming here was like a dream. I attended a free school where I got a free lunch, and most of my books and school supplies were free. I didn’t have to buy a uniform, and I was given a free MetroCard to get me to and from school on the subway or bus.

The fact that all these things were free showed me that America prioritizes well-educated children and wants outstanding future citizens.

Free—for Now

I was reminded how lucky I was when I went back to Mexico on vacation. I was talking to one of my friends there and she asked me, “How is school?”

“It’s great: I attend for free, I have a free lunch, and I get a free MetroCard for the subway,” I said.

“Wow, you have it pretty good,” she said. She explained that, since the economy had gone downhill in Mexico too, her family was finding it even harder to send her to school. “Even though I only need $1 for the bus, sometimes I don’t go because I don’t have it,” she said.

At the time, I felt grateful to be living in New York because I didn’t face a situation like that. Now, though, it looks like I’m closer to my friend’s position.

New York state is in bad shape financially, mostly because of the recession, and therefore it’s not giving as much money to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) this year as the MTA had hoped. A few weeks ago, the MTA in turn proposed big changes to its budget, including cutting out free MetroCards for students and charging people more to use buses and subways.

The People Say ‘No’

I’ve become used to all that I’m entitled to in New York. It’s hard to keep straight A’s and be involved in extracurricular activities at the same time; if I have to get a job to pay for my transportation, doing well in school will be almost impossible. I think students should get free MetroCards so that we can concentrate fully on learning. Unfortunately, though, it seems that public education is not going to be protected from this bad economy.

Since I go to an international high school, many of my classmates and teachers, like me, come from countries where they had to pay for their education. After the MTA’s plan was made public, most of them said they totally disagreed with it. Others vowed they would not come to school if they stopped receiving MetroCards. I wanted to know more about their opinions, so I began interviewing them.

I talked to 30 students and every single one of them agreed that getting rid of free MetroCards is wrong, unfair, and unreasonable. They all believed it would hurt our education by making it difficult for most of us to come to school.

“It’s a public school, so they must give MetroCards to students,” one sophomore said. “It sucks, because not everybody will have money to buy MetroCards.”

A junior said he’s one of the students who will be left behind. “I don’t have money and I won’t be able to come to school,” he said. He added, “That is not fair.”

Teachers agreed. “I think it’s horrible; education is not a privilege, it’s a right,” said one history teacher. “Telling students to buy MetroCards takes away the idea that education is a right for everyone.”

A science teacher pointed out that the plan “punishes students by forcing them to go to schools in the neighborhoods in which they live, which may have poorly functioning schools.” And an art teacher called it “a bad way to balance the budget. It hurts students and their families.”

Finding a Way

On the other hand, a former New Youth Connections writer who is originally from Ghana offered another perspective based on her experiences in her home country.

“I think it’s a mistake for New York schools to take away MetroCards,” she said. “But I strongly believe that a determined student will find any means possible to get to school no matter what. Not every student in Ghana can afford to pay their school fees, let alone transportation, but they still find means to get to school. I think American students take too much for granted and need to appreciate the opportunities they have.”

I think she’s right: In Mexico too, as far as I know, everybody seemed to find their own way to go to school. But I also want education to remain a priority in America. If a student in New York can’t afford transportation, he’ll be forced to attend the school closest to his home. If that school isn’t good, his education and future will suffer, which isn’t good for the country’s future, either.

Keep Protesting

The economy is affecting schools in other ways, too. One teacher told me, “In several schools, there are 30 students in a classroom and that is a nightmare for teachers. There aren’t enough textbooks and supplies. [In some cases] teachers buy their own supplies.” Also, some of my fellow NYC writers say that their schools aren’t offering certain classes because of budget problems.

We are surviving; it’s not too bad for now, but what about later? I’m afraid that if the economy doesn’t improve, eventually we won’t have anything we need to learn—not computers, textbooks, or teachers.

From my interviews, I gathered some really good suggestions for other ways the state can balance its budget. These included charging more tax on cigarettes and liquor, charging a toll to drive in Manhattan on weekdays, and taxing the wealthy at a higher rate. I think these are great ideas, since no one will lose out on educational opportunities because of those changes.

Right now, the MTA is discussing this issue with the city and state; it probably won’t be voted on until June. Neither we nor our teachers agree with the idea of taking away student MetroCards, so we must make our voices heard and keep protesting this plan.

To send a written message to the MTA, or to learn about other ways of joining the protest, visit straphangers.org/studentpasses

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