Dear Source:
In a very few weeks schools throughout the territory will be open for classes and our students will eagerly look forward to learning again. They have many challenges ahead of them this school year. These challenges were not due to their ability and willingness to learn but by the current system of education that is in place. Prior to this administration taking office, we saw year after year a decline in our national average test scores (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/states/profile.asp.). While some improvements were made on average, over the last few years, we still lag far behind on the national level. Can change happen overnight? No, but certainly change is needed. The Board of Education and the Department of Education need to be the change makers for the sake of our children and our parents and teachers are vital to the learning process. It will not be up to one individual commissioner or department head to do this. It will be up to all of us. However, without the change makers in place our test scores will remain the same.
I look forward to the confirmation process that is ahead for the department of education's commissioner nominee Dr. Lynn Spampinato. Governor de Jongh did not rush into deciding who was to fill this critical position. Nor did he have criteria based on where the person was born or what nationality of the candidate was, but instead he realized that a change maker was needed in the Department of Education.
Our senators have an important role to play in the process of advice and consent, I hope that they judge the candidate with fairness and honesty. I expect that they can do this, because when the stakes are so high for our young people it must be done.
Jason Budsan
St. Thomas
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