A large group of PS 321 parents, teachers and administrators joined hundreds of others in protest against recent school budget cuts in front of the Department of Education in Manhattan Thursday afternoon.

The school’s PTA leaders encouraged parents to make their voices heard at the protest or with letters and calls to their city council members. This from NY 1:

Hundreds of students, teachers, parents, and lawmakers gathered outside the Department of Education headquarters in Manhattan Thursday to protest Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s $100 million education cut.

They denounced the budget plan — which is part of the mayor’s plan to cut spending citywide.

High school students at the protest said the cuts will make it harder for them to finish school.

“I want to graduate,” said one student. “I want to get an education. I don’t want my money to be taken away for this. I need my education so I can go somewhere in this world.”

“It affects the students, it affects the teaching skills,” said another. “We need that money and they can’t take it away from us because it’s the only thing we have.”

Schools Chancellor Joel Klein says he’s redirected $230 million from the head office into city classrooms over the last two years, and he’s looking to continue that trend.