Once upon a dream

* Have you ever thought how great it would be if the Public School System will support the parents’ “Individual Educational Placement” for their disabled children’s special needs?

* Have you ever thought how great it would be for many students with disabilities if the Education Commissioner and the Board of Education members would learn to treat them as human, instead of animals? Just look at the environment they are taught in, go to the schools, these children are confined in a small room for hours at a time, just like animals.

* Have you ever thought how great it would be for many students with disabilities and their parents if only the Office of the Northern Mariana Protection and Advocacy Services Inc. would hire competent lawyers for their protection?

* Have you ever thought how great it would be for many student with disabilities in the Northern Marian Islands if PSS will stop or change the mainstream program, which is a leading problem for them?

* Have you ever thought how wonderful it would be if the $3 million dollar federal funding would go directly to the student with disabilities, rather than the money being put in the PSS general funds, to be used for travel and to pay for the bus drivers’ overtime pay?

* Have you ever wondered how many special education teachers could be hired to teach our students with disabilities if PSS special education officials and the Board of Education would stop unnecessary travel?

* Have you ever thought how wonderful it would be if all students with disabilities were not being discriminated against just because their parents are so vocal and confrontational when it comes to their children’s right?

* Have you ever thought how great it could be for our students with disabilities if they would only have a Governor, Legislature, Board of Education and Commissioner who can be trusted to deliver on their promises?

* Have you ever thought how bad it would be for our students with disabilities if PSS continues to submit false assessment reports to the U.S. Office of Special Education Program, especially to director Stephanie Smith Lee?

* Have you ever thought that, under different officials at PSS, our students with disabilities would have had received all their special educational needs and more funds from the federal government?

* Have you ever thought how great it would be if our Special Education teachers or regular teachers who are doing outstanding work for the students with disabilities do not feel afraid or threatened to speak up for what they believe would help our children and not get harassed by ranking PSS officials?

* Have you ever thought about the dreams that these young children with disabilities have in life? Dreams that are determined by individuals who have high positions in PSS but who couldn’t care less about our children as long as they get their paychecks every month and travel for personal gain. Our disabled students are special and they have special needs, we need someone who could be trusted to help them make their dreams come true. They don’t ask for much, but obviously current PSS officials think that a good teacher and a good learning environment is too much for these children to ask for.

If only you would listen to their dreams.

Juan Camacho Reyes
Honolulu, HI