We read with some chagrin the words of Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds and Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II regarding schools being closed because of teacher job actions. Simmonds said, "I can no longer continue to tolerate a situation which places them (the children) in harm's way."
James said the teachers "were hurting the children" by calling in sick and forcing the schools to close.
They are right, of course. Our students are being harmed by not getting the instruction they need; but, unfortunately, these kinds of comments reek of emotional blackmail that neither teachers nor students believe.
While they're excoriating teachers, the commissioner and the lieutenant governor should also be looking at violations of the teachers union contract that harm the children.
Under Article IV, Working Conditions, it says: "Classes shall not be in a classroom that has a temperature exceeding 89 degrees . . . teachers shall carry out their duties under safe and healthful conditions."
Have Simmonds and James toured the schools lately and seen the unsafe and shabby conditions? Most school grounds are littered with broken furniture, the bathrooms have damaged fixtures, the buildings need paint, ceilings leak, flourescent lights are out and water runoff invades classrooms whenever it rains.
These conditions did not develop overnight. When Gov. Charles W. Turnbull was Education commissioner in 1983, the schools were substandard. Is letting these conditions prevail decade after decade an expression of concern for our students?
To add insult to injury, many students don't even have a run-down, overheated classroom to go to, because of unfilled teaching positions and an ongoing shortage of substitute teachers. Does this not put them in harm's way?
Students are short-changed outside their classrooms, too. Charlotte Amalie High School, which has nearly 2,000 students, has one librarian. Again, the American Federation of Teachers contract states, "There shall be one librarian in each library for every 500 students; classes shall not be sent to the library when the teacher is absent or when the classroom is not able to be used."
Wouldn't the salary of one or two Education Department administrators be better spent on the infrastructure of the schools so that students can be kept out of harm's way? And how about that $50,000 public relations director position? That money would pay for two teachers in the classroom, or two librarians, to keep our children "out of harm's way" by offering an education instead of coverups and excuses.
We think administration after administration — aided and abetted by our "concerned" legislators in their air-conditioned, well-appointed offices — has exhibited delusion, denial and dishonesty where the children of the territory are concerned. This one, unfortunately, is no different so far.
