‘HLI 18-12 leads to a better teaching, learning experience’

A vote for the House Legislative Initiative 18-12 that proposes a guaranteed quarter of every Commonwealth dollar for public education will lead to an improved teaching and learning experience in all public schools.

Public school teachers in the Northern Marianas are one in saying that they could only do so much in handling their classes; however, they would be able to get their students fully engaged in the learning process if the teacher-student ratio is reduced.

For newly hired PSS teacher Darcy Lee, who teaches special education at William S. Reyes Elementary School, the initiative is important because it offers teachers an opportunity to be more effective in cultivating a student’s full potential.

Originally from South Florida, Lee, who came to Saipan only in August, said, “Coming from the mainland, in comparison with the CNMI, CNMI is just way behind in class sizes and modernization of the classrooms.”

She felt that students are shortchanged as they miss out on resources that could be made available to them that would help them with their academics, help them excel, and get them into colleges.

“Without having that money there to give them the technology, and the modern buildings, and equipment they need, they have to overcome the obstacles just to be on par with other kids that are competing with the same scholarships in the same schools,” she said.

She was surprised that class sizes here are big.

For her, this puts the students at a losing end, failing to be fully engaged in the classes and preventing them from realizing their full potential.

“We would like for our students to get the individual attention they deserve,” she said.

But with a class size of at least 30 students, this cannot happen.

In Southwest Florida where Lee comes from, the maximum number of students in a classroom averages 25.

She said in kindergarten through second grade, “we were only allowed 18 students in the classroom per one teacher.”

She also said that from third to fifth grade, classes have a maximum of 22 students while for higher grades, it is 25 to 1.

Marianas High School Algebra teacher Kathleen Winkfield could not agree more that the passage of the initiative will afford teachers and their students the opportunity to get the most of their classroom interaction.

With the needed funds guaranteed, PSS will be able to have the critical supplies available for teachers’ and students’ use.

“There are supplies that we do need and programs that should be offered to kids with special needs,” she said.

It will give them great relief to have all the necessary tools and resources so they could effectively discharge their duties as teachers.

She pointed out that reduction in class sizes, as envisioned under the initiative, will help make her more effective in managing the class.

She also said the passage of the initiative will allow PSS to employ more highly qualified teachers.

Her fellow MHS teacher, Christiana Duenas, an English teacher, echoed the same sentiment that the initiative will provide a gamut of opportunities for them to raise the quality of education and the learning experience a notch higher.

“It will make teaching easier. The class size would be smaller. The interaction with the student and teachers will be easier,” said Duenas.

She underscored the need to pare down class sizes as this will lead to a higher quality time spent per student.

She also said the initiative will help make their schools a safer learning environment.

She said HLI 18-12 will help them implement crucial repairs on facilities to help keep schools safe for students’ use.

A big number of CNMI schools were built 50 years ago and now require major repairs.

The teachers also believe that a vote for H.L.I. 18-12 will ensure a brighter future for CNMI students as it will guarantee that PSS will have the resources to continually hire highly qualified teachers, implement programs, procure essential instructional materials and technology, and conduct regular repairs, renovations and maintenance of its facilities. (PSS)