When will students ‘be’ first?

Throughout all four years of high school, our Marianas High School campus has seen too many great teachers and staff members leave for more rewarding positions; factors that are out of the students’ control.

Currently, MHS has three counselors (which means about 300 or more students are assigned to just one counselor), one maintenance staff, one security guard, and a declining amount of teachers. There are 1,500 or more students attending our school, but too many of them spend their instructional time sitting around in our cafeteria. In truth, our cafeteria holds more teacherless students during class time than it does hungry students at lunch time.

Where are the substitute teachers? Why is PSS unable to hire any more staff members?

Our Public School System flaunts around their agenda to improve schools under the motto “Students First” but only takes action on matters that please the media. “Public First, Students Later” is the true motto.

Why does PSS not have enough money to afford more teacher and staff member, roles crucial to the education of students and enrichment of our community, but can afford to build a gymnasium down at Kobler Elementary School? Why doesn’t Marianas High School have a legitimate, on campus A.P. Literature class? Why do students have to attend schools only in their villages? Why do we have only one maintenance man cleaning up a whole campus? Why do we have so few counselors?

As a senior, I need my counselor throughout most of my college application process. But they’re usually unavailable and/or have too many other students to attend to.

And lastly, will there ever be solutions to our campus’ as well as many other campuses’ growing problems? Or will PSS stifle our rights to education further? When will students actually BE first?

Krisha Marie Balolong
Marianas High School