Dear Source:
The Governor apparently is attempting to take Education problems very seriously. He has sought out someone who he feels will take the bull by its horns to create real changes. It is more than time to get out of the comfort zone that is not getting our kids anywhere, is not giving them a competitive edge with the rest of the world, and not giving them a real fighting chance for a good life.
Education here is a broken system and so far nobody has managed to pull it out of the hole it has sunken deeply into. We need someone who is going to completely overhaul the system, is not afraid to do it or doesn't give up easily when they find themselves hitting against resistance to change. It takes a lot of work and cooperation to change something that is not working. The community, teachers and parents should be backing the Governor's attempt to make serious changes.
What difference does it make what color or where the new appointee is from? If that is the basis for rejection then we really need to take a hard look at our attitudes. We have Virgin Islanders living all over the states, should where they come from and their color be a part of their getting a job anywhere outside of our community? No, that should never be a reason anywhere. We should be totally ashamed to even bring these up as factors in arguing.
The most important criteria a person should have for this post is the drive to put the quality of Education at the top of the list. We do need someone with knowledge of what is going on with Education outside of our community. We need someone who can compare if our kids are falling behind and how much it will take to bring them up to equal or higher levels than what is across the nation.
As a person myself who has on numerous occasions had to make changes happen that people resist against, I know how hard this job is going to be for anyone who has the attitude to really buck up to it. People resist changes more so than keep an open mind to see what the end result will be. It takes serious determination to get past resistance and refusals to cooperate.
If our people, teachers, and parents can't recognize how very serious substandard education is to our children then we will continue to fail them. Resistance to change is not a good reason to continue failing the kids of this community. Crime and drugs don't care what color or where anyone is from nor does it care if one has education or not. Our children need the skills and education to make a living that is positive and not be turning to the streets for a quick buck because they can't get a job or move up in a job due to lack of abilities. We need to take a good hard look at the ages of those dying on our streets to really recognize how serious of a problem we have.
If Dr. Spampinato does not do her job and prove herself as Commissioner, she CAN be removed. Give the Governor a chance to do what he promised to do before jumping the gun. At least he is trying to seriously do his part, will we do ours?
Carol Berry
St. Thomas
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