New York Schools Chancellor Cathie Black Has Low Approval Rating

The more people get to know Schools Chancellor Cathie Black, the more they disapprove of her, according to a new NY1-Marist poll.

Black's approval rating stood at 17 percent, down from 21 percent in February.

A Quinnipiac University poll released last month also showed a 17 percent approval rating for Black.

The school's chancellor is becoming better known, according to the latest Marist poll. Twenty-three percent of respondents said they don't know how to rate her or have never heard of her; down from 35 percent in February.

"Chancellor Black is still not on firm footing with New Yorkers," said Dr. Lee M. Miringoff , Director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. "She's somewhat better known, but not better graded."

Black has been mercilessly booed at several events , including meetings where Department of Education panels voted to close schools .

From the New York Times:

Ms. Black has remained largely sequestered from the public since taking over in January from Joel I. Klein, and at public functions she commonly hews to scripted remarks or takes limited questions. She made a couple of gaffes in her first weeks in office, including one in which she jokingly recommended birth control as a solution to school overcrowding in Lower Manhattan.

The Marist poll also showed the Bloomberg Administration's efforts to vilify the United Federation of Teachers has been largely unsuccessful.

Fifty-five percent of people said the teacher's union does more good than harm, with 35 percent disagreeing.