Students held a rally outside the meeting, many carrying signs they made to help get their plea out. Once inside several took the mic with personal appeals and touching stories of their beloved teacher, Mr. B. Forum Newsgroup photo by Luis Gronda.
Parents and students from P.S/I.S 119 crowded the entrance of P.S. 153 in Maspeth on Tuesday afternoon in their continued support for Evan Behlivanis, a drama teacher from the Glendale school who was recently excessed due to low funds.
The rally was the first chance for the kids to band together and show why they want their teacher to come back to the school.
The students and parents gathered at the public school’s playground and walked down to its entrance with signs in hand pleading that Behlivanis, or Mr. B, as the kids commonly referred to him as, is rehired at the school.
The students hand-made signs and the sported tee-shirts from different plays that Behlivanis has produced to show their support. The kids from 119 also came prepared with a song they wrote to show their affection for their beloved teacher and to pay homage to one of the skills that many of them say have improved immensely since enrolling in his drama program.
“We need you Mr.B, oh yes we do, we need the musical and your class too, if you’re not teaching us, we’re through, oh Mr.B we need you,” were the lyrics to the tune that the group of kids sang in unison.
Jack Sammon, an eighth-grader from 119 who lives in Maspeth, said that Behlivanis enriched his learning experience at the school by not only teaching him about theater and arts, but by combining other subjects with theater as well. He added that his acting and vocal skills have vastly improved while in his program.
“I still have the hope that he can get sent back, if not for me, then for the other students,” he said.
Sammon also started the Facebook page “Get Mr. Behlavanis to stay in 119,” to gather support online. The page has over 500 likes as of Wednesday.
Student Emily DiSanti said that if Behlivanis does not return to the school,there will be fewer oppurtunities for students to be in a performing arts program like the one he ran.
“The kids wouldn’t be involved, it takes us off the street,” said DiSanti, whose mother, Darlene, is one of the organizers of the group to bring Behlivanis back. “Alot of kids have said that he’s not just a teacher, he’s a friend,” she said.
The group held their rally outside of P.S 153 before the Community Education Council 24 (CEC) meeting that night and continued their protests inside as the council met.
Annemarie Inez, another student at 119, became emotional while stating why Behlivanis should come back.
“He taught us more than how to get up there and put on a show. He taught us how to work together, solve problems on our own and prepare for the real world,” she said as she began to cry. “…and how could you take that away? If Mr. B wasn’t important, none of us would have taken a day out of our summer to be here.”
Overall, more than a dozen people took their turn speaking to the CEC about Behlivanis and how he affected their life.
By Luis Gronda
