Marianas High School students flooded the Saipan Tribune\u2019s copy room late yesterday afternoon with about 70 letters to the editor, said to be triggered by a decision to merge a U.S. Government class with an AP History class to accommodate students who had been left teacher-less after several teachers went on medical leave.<\/p>\n
MHS principal Cherlyn Cabrera acknowledged in an interview close to press time that she was aware of the letters and her students\u2019 frustrations, but also pointed to the pressures of MHS\u2019 limited classrooms and resources, saying the issue is a \u201ctemporary frustration\u201d that would be resolved when some teachers return to work next week.<\/p>\n
The letters reveal that MHS has lost five teachers this school year, but only two have been replaced. Because of a systemic shortage of substitute teachers, students are placed in the school cafeteria without instruction during class time for weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the past two weeks I haven\u2019t been learning anything. Ever since February 2nd, I\u2019ve been sitting in the cafeteria doing nothing. Which is not what I like. I come to school to learn. Where are our substitute teachers? \u2026I do not like the fact that they transferred me into a U.S. History class. I already took U.S. History in my freshmen year,\u201d wrote one student, Karay Fitial.<\/p>\n
One student explained in a phone interview that they decided to voice their dismay over a school that they felt had teachers that were \u201coverworked.\u201d She said students had been waiting for weeks in the \u201ccafeteria doing nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen teachers are absent, [students are] put into our school\u2019s cafeteria for the day,\u201d another student wrote. \u201cTo supervise them, they take one of the teachers to watch over them. He or she has to take precious instructional time away from their classes.\u201d<\/p>\n
In their letters, some students questioned where PSS money was going. Cabrera explained that students may not know the \u201cbigger picture\u201d and think that \u201cmoney is money\u201d even if local and federal dollars can be only spent in certain areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are doing what we can with what we have\u2026 I am also frustrated. I want students to have instruction and I don\u2019t want to overload classes but when resources are limited you make the best with what you have.\u201d<\/p>\n
May of the letters questioned PSS\u2019 priorities, saying the motto \u201cStudents First\u201d does not seem to reflect what is actually happening in classrooms.<\/p>\n
Saipan Tribune will publish the students\u2019 letters in succeeding days. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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