Dear Source:
Any interest? I am so very saddened after one year teaching in the public school system that the children in my class who believe I will be returning to be their teacher again this year will not be seeing me again. Due to such horrible conditions, no pay, and numerous broken promises I cannot subject myself to it another year.
My best friend and I moved here from Florida last June 2005. We are both Nationally Board Certified professional educators. We have taught in low-income settings before. The treatment/mistreatment of teachers (especially new ones) in our public schools here is criminal. I can cry all day long about what was done to me, but the real crime is in what it ultimately does to these children as a result.
Anyway, I know this is not new news here. I had heard stories before I started, but WOW what an eye opener. I will be teaching at a private school this coming school year while my old class sits again, probably teacherless as they did for so much of last year (I was transferred in from my original school in Nov.) after 4 teachers turned over before Nov.1.shameful.
How do we fix this? Who do we have to speak with? My friend and I joked (when we werent crying) that it is more fun and easier to bang our heads against a cement brick than get things done/questions answered from the USVI DOE.
I want better for these kids. They deserve better. If you are interested in our stories feel free to contact us. We can go whichever direction you like with it.
Jennifer Graham
Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.
