“Mayor to Kids: Say Goodbye to Your Teacher” is the glaring headline on the front page of the Feb. 17 edition of New York Teacher, a bi-weekly periodical for teachers. Its sub-head reads “Bloomberg would rather lay off teachers than extend millionaire’s tax.”

This state tax is due to expire at the end of this year, and my immediate thought on this sub-head was: I wonder if the mayor objects because he himself is a millionaire, which would mean his own taxes would be higher. It has been reported that this tax could add billions of dollars to the state budget which could prevent layoffs.

Much has been written about the possibility of 5,000 teachers losing their jobs come the start of the new school year in September. Whether it’s the veterans or the newbies, it’s not good news either way. Bloomberg considers education his #1 priority, yet schools have been closed and students shuffled about with seemingly little regard for the ensuing confusion. Demonstrations against these closings continue throughout the city. The last teachers’ contract put a limit on class sizes for every grade, but with so many possible layoffs in sight, how would class sizes be smaller? With fewer teachers available, this would add up to even larger class sizes.

In its March 10-23 issue (New DOE Plan Could Ease Crowding), the Norwood News writes that the DOE’s revised five-year plan for school construction includes an increase of more than 1,600 new seats within District 10 in the northwest Bronx, with the location of remaining seats to be determined, and a total of almost 3,000 class seats slated for District 10 over the next five years. Also noted in the article was news of a new school to be constructed on Webster Avenue, scheduled to hold 640 seats, and finally, the article reports, in part, that the DOE hopes the new additions of class seats will reduce class size.

All this information sounds great. But smaller class sizes would require additional teachers, and with the threat of a massive teacher layoff, who would be teaching in these smaller sized classes?

Bloomberg wants to be remembered as the education mayor after he leaves office. He may very well get his wish, although not in the way he meant. His legacy may be better described as the mayor who turned the city’s educational system into chaos.

–Judy Noy is the parent of two NYC public school graduates.