Thursday, October 1, 2026
“Red for Public Ed” was the slogan — and clothing — of choice last Friday when approximately 200 local parents, teachers and residents assembled along Merrick Road in Lynbrook to peacefully to protest against Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s education reform. The organized protest took place for miles along Merrick Road in Nassau County, and continued into Suffolk County where the road is called Montauk Highway.
“ We are taking a stand to let Gov. Cuomo, and all of the south shore of Long Island know that we want to keep our local control, and maintain our children's rights to education,” read the organizers flyer. “Please wear red, and feel free to bring informational signs and posters. All are welcome — let’s PAINT Merrick Road RED!!!!”
Emily Bergin, a 6th grader in Lynbrook North Middle School, said that all of the teachers in school that day wore red, and many wore T-Shirts that read "Keep Calm & Teach On."
Cuomo's budget proposals call for 50 percent of teacher evaluations to be based on New York State students’ test performances. The tests are in line with the new Common Core curriculum, which, according to Emily’s mother, Julie, includes a much more vigorous curriculum, is not “developmentally appropriate.”
“[The curriculum] has notoriously been riddled with errors, as have the assessments. The tests do not drive instruction — in fact the teachers never even see the results of our children’s tests. It is not fair that our children are caught in the middle. This is a lose-lose situation. The teachers’ hands are tied. I will once again be opting my child out of the state tests and I would encourage all parents with children in grades three-through-eight to do so also.” Bergin also has a child who attends Lynbrook High School.
“Thank you to all Lynbrook teachers who organized this event,” said Arlene Salazar, a parent with children at West End Elementary and the high school. “Our community supports the cause. Governor Cuomo needs to realize he will not manipulate our children's education to push his political agenda.”
“I felt proud and empowered walking side by side with friends, teachers and parents in a show of unity
against Cuomo’s education reform,” said Denise Deputy
a parent with children at Marion Street Elementary and Lynbrook North Middle School. “Mostly there is a feeling that the days of sitting quiet on the sidelines are over. No one should ever be scared into silence. Our kids deserve our voices to
be heard on the local level and all the way to Albany. If our words aren’t enough, then Opting Out is more important than ever and I urge everyone to do so.”
Julie Bergin contributed to this story.
