BOE, teachers, union and power!

Parts of this letter is written in Ebonics and I hope the public don’t mind because for me it’s like a local person who wants to say something in their own language. Ebonics is the dialect of “Black English” and I’m not over Black History month yet. I’m sure everyone in the CNMI is smart enough to know that all the fuss the Board of Education made with me was about power—plain and simple. We all know that power has the potential to corrupt but we also know that absolute power absolutely corrupts—it’s just a matter of time. We don’t have to look far to see people being prosecuted for the misuse of power, especially with our money. But there are other abuses of power that have gone “unchecked” for decades in the Department of Education—the power to make decisions.

But first we must ask, why can’t teachers have a real representative on the Board with the power to influence policy when the Constitution demands it? Why can’t the BOE Teacher Rep. be a member of the “Fiscal & Personnel” committee, which addresses most of the issues that affect teachers? Why is the Private School Rep. made chair of the committees over Legislation and School Reform for public schools when the public school teachers have no representation in any committee? Why are teachers not protected from non-renewal of contracts, especially when teachers are the most valuable component of our education system? Why does the Board of Education promote “easy termination” of teachers when the rest of the academic institutions in America are focusing on “teacher retention?” Why does the school system seek out a senator to make appeals to teachers about taking the PRAXIS and refuse to allow the BOE Teacher Rep. to have a role on teacher issues? BOE made a big fuss about paper because they didn’t want the BOE Teacher Rep. to have the power to use the BOE stationary, even if the BOE stationary has my name on it. So if BOE will make a big fuss over paper with my name on it to prevent me from even having the “appearance” of power when I don’t even have a vote, I’m sure the answer to all of these questions is clear to everyone.

BOE has the power to dictate and refuse to collaborate. BOE has the power to manipulate, alter and change the entire system with no due process or checks and balances from within or outside the system, with the only exception being the accountability for the use of local and federal funds. No BOE decision can be challenged in a formal process, which means they are exercising absolute power and that ain’t right. BOE has the power to hold others accountable with NO reciprocal accountability for themselves other than the accountability to voters every four years and that ain’t right. The BOE, like our Legislature, are not accountable for poor or bad decisions and four years is too long for teachers, Board members and their decisions. But all of that will change with a union, as BOE and PSS will be held accountable on a daily basis with a union and that’s right for true.

Placing a check on the decision making power in the Education Department is just as important as the accountability checks on spending by the agency. Our Legislature has failed miserably to implement legislation that will govern the decision making process of the Board. The Legislature is now figuratively told to “take a hike” when they make resolution request or propose a law the board doesn’t like and that ain’t right. BOE can do this to the Legislature but they can’t with a union and that’s right for true.

The question has never been, “Will teachers get collective bargaining?” if you know your history and I’ve always known teachers have that right and that it was just a matter of time. The only question is, will BOE sit down peaceably or will they be forced to sit down by the federal government. I hope BOE doesn’t repeat the mistakes of history and make us look bad in the eyes of the Feds again, knowing every teacher in America already bargains with their Department of Education. But whatever the case, let’s get it on. I just hope this was an eye opener and that teachers and the community will be more cognizant of what is really going on with the power of the people they elected.

The union is here to HELP the entire system and not to cause harm. Their business is education and to hurt the system would be like hurting the hand that feeds you. Teachers shouldn’t be dismayed or be distracted if there is another BOE media smoke screen and teachers certainly shouldn’t feel or be intimidated because of the union being here.

Just keep your eyes on the prize (collective bargaining), sign-up for the union, report any problems, concentrate on your job and family and leave the rest to your BOE Teacher Representative and the union. Teachers have an opportunity now to become part of the solution for all teachers and the system by joining the union—it is that simple. All teachers, protected by one union, headed in one direction.

Ambrose M. Bennett
Teacher Representative