MANHATTAN — Mayor Michael Bloomberg fought back Sunday against what he said was a "constant dissing" of the city's education system.
"This constant dissing of what our parents have done and what our teachers have done and what our kids have done, I find just disgraceful," he said on "Meet the Press" with David Gregory.
When Gregory asked the mayor about increased class sizes and polling that showed a disapproval with the mayor's handling of education, Bloomberg went on the defensive.
"If you go and survey the parents, they overwhelming think the school system is dramatically better," he said.
"Our object is to make everybody college ready or career ready or both."
Bloomberg cited a 50 percent increase in the number of students who get diplomas and a narrowing of the gap achievement between minority students and "those who have scored much better."
In the wide-ranging interview, the billionaire mayor also slammed the notion that the wealthy aren't doing their part to share the nation's tax burden.
"I think it’s not fair to say that wealthy people don’t pay their fair share," he said.
"The [Warren] Buffet thing is just theatrics," referring to the Berkshire Hathaway chief's suggestion that he and the rest of the super-rich should pay more taxes.