Dear Source:
I will not attempt to find words to express the absolute disgust felt in response to the Senate's 11 hour questioning of Dr. Spampinato.
The actions of our elected officials, during that hearing, are merely representative of our "bigger picture," and can, and should, be used as a gauge as to what is not working within our community, and, even more importantly, why it's not working.
Enough said on that embarrassing subject.
I would like to interject another perspective and opinion on the nomination of Dr. Lynn Spampinato to the position of Commissioner of Education. The most important perspective—That of a student within the public school system of the Virgin Islands.
My 17 year old daughter, who is a senior at the St. Croix Educational Complex, had the opportunity to be present at a meeting with Dr. Spampinato a few weeks ago. She and I were discussing Dr. Spampinato's nomination, the discussions that took place at the meeting she was present in, and what my daughter "took away" from the meeting. To quote my 17-year-old daughter: "I am sad that Dr. Spampinato is only coming on board now. I would like to have had the benefit of the changes that she is going to bring to the system."
We all need to pause and give much thought to that statement. (I would like to suggest that those elected officials that lead the pack of flesh hungry hyenas doing the questioning during this past week's hearing, pause even longer, and give much more thought to the statement.) As per the majority of opinions already presented on this forum, give this woman a chance! Give these students a chance! There are so very many who, just as my daughter, actually want a quality education and are willing to put forth the effort to attain it. All they need are the proper support mechanisms to be in place within the system to do so.
Dr. Spampinato can put those mechanisms into place. I would be willing to predict that under her leadership we will no longer have students sitting in classes without even the books necessary to learn the subject matter! That, dear friends, is the condition of our past, and current, educational system. That is the condition of the same system that these same legislators are trying so desperately to keep from being changed.
Bridget Dawson
St. Croix
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
