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Stay out of politics!
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Posted on Nov 02 2005
The primary mission of the CNMIs public school system is to provide students of the Commonwealth with free and appropriate public education and not involve themselves in local politics. In yesterday’s Saipan Tribune issue, BOE chair Roman Benavente attacked Rep. Hofschneider by distorting the comments made by the latter during the gubernatorial debate.
I was present at the debate and Hofschneider did not say that the students at Saipan Southern High School could not put a sentence together, as the BOE chairman claimed. Instead, Hofschneider was simply conveying the need for the government to fund and prioritize other areas of education.
Here is my interpretation (as shared by many others) of what Rep. Hoschneider REALLY said: Students are expected to read, write, and do arithmetic at their respective grade levels and the PSS must ensure that these goals are met by the time students reach the high school level. If not, then what good would laptops serve the students IF they are unable to even put a sentence together? Now, where does it say that Heinz was criticizing the students of Saipan Southern High?
Additionally, for the BOE chair’s information, I have a son who is currently attending school at Saipan Southern High. It is a good school. As a parent, I believe that Benavente owes my son and me an apology for using us to attack Rep. Hofschneider. His action was indeed very unprofessional.
Members of the Board of Education must stay out of local politics, especially the chairman. To this end, I want everyone to know that Rep. Hofschneider did not say that the students at Saipan Southern High could not put a sentence together, the chairman of the Board of Education did.
Kimo M. Rosario
As Gonno, Koblerville
