mission statement

When one peruses the number of museums in New York City, the list is staggering. It starts from the old reliable museums of police, fire and transit to airplanes, and even one for food and drink. But there is one museum that is shockingly missing from this list: one that is devoted entirely to the history of education.

The city of New York and its welcoming iconic Miss Liberty was the first sight millions of immigrants saw at the turn of the 20th century before they set foot on the Land of Opportunity. In order to succeed they first had to have their children educated. This herculean task was placed on the shoulders of the New York City school system and for decades that followed the millions who passed through their doors were given the best public education in the land.

Not to honor the memory of the thousands of dedicated men and women who made it their life's work to educate the potpourri of young minds who would one day grow up to be the backbone and leaders of the greatest country in the world would be a great omission.

For nearly twenty years now, I have been amassing a growing collection of the educational memorabilia numbering into the hundreds which show the history of what it was like to be educated in the New York City public school circa 1850-1965, This extensive collection is guaranteed to make those who visit this exhibit appreciate what it was like to sit at one of those wooden desks, for six hours a day, for tree while receiving a priceless education.

What is necessary at this point is to find a permanent sites to exhibit this growing collection. Isn’t it about time that those of us who live in one of the greatest cultural centers in the world find a home that will tell the story of one of the most significant educational achievements in our country’s history.

Sincerely,

Marty Raskin