THE desire of teachers for Praxis scores to be lowered is now a dead issue with the exception of the business education teachers. Mr. Tim Thornburg provided the Board of Education quantitative and definitive proof of the variance between teachers who have passed Praxis and those who have not. His data clearly demonstrated that students are achieving at a higher level with the teachers that passed Praxis. As for lowering the scores, it was also brought out in our December meeting that PSS scores are equal and in some cases slightly above the national average. The point is where do we draw the line, as a clear “cut off point” has to be established. There are teachers that passed by one point and there are teachers that failed by one point but PSS has a “legal” responsibility to establish a cut off point – its hard but its fair. I am personally satisfied with the cut off points established by the Board with the only exception being the Business Ed. teachers.
The Voc Ed. teachers, except Business teachers, are required to score 550 while the Business teachers are required to score 600. ETS’s listing has Business separate from the other Voc Ed courses while PSS has Business listed as a Voc Ed. course. There are only two scenarios to resolve this inconsistency — PSS must either lower the scores for the Business teachers to the same score that is required of the other Voc. Ed teachers or PSS must “reclassify” Business in a separate category from Voc. Ed. to be consistent with ETS. It is my belief that PSS should create the consistency “within” PSS and lower the score than to try and be consistent with the ETS listing and change the category of Business teachers, which will create a potential domino effect to change student requirement policy to make Business Ed. a requirement.
As for the many other issues and concerns of teachers such as “ a set amount of time for all teachers on breaks & lunch, tenure, and other issues, teachers have failed to organize so that these issues can be addressed collectively. The Board did promise to have evening meeting this year so teachers and the general public can attend but the Board is in no hurry to address issues that are not supported by the “majority” of teachers and I agree. There was already a polarization of teachers and Praxis broaden the gap instead of diminishing the gap, which makes my job as the teacher rep. very difficult to help ALL teachers when they don’t agree. The teachers that passed Praxis don’t seem to care about those who failed nor are they concerned about collective bargaining. The teachers that failed Praxis also don’t seem to care about collective bargaining, as their only concern seems to be their salary. Just as you can led a horse to water but you can’t make him drink, I have constantly tried to lead teachers to the bargaining table but they don’t seem to collectively want to exercise their right to bargain. With that said, I will do what I can in my final year for teachers as their rep. but teachers need to do their part and join ACT if they truly want to influence BOE policy. In the words of the founder of America “we need only two forms of citizenry to have successful government, informed and active citizens.” Sad that only some teachers care enough to be informed and the majority is not active. I don’t have a vote on the board and teachers need to know that “sweet talking” the board into doing something they really don’t want to do will never happen even when there is some merit to the concerns of teachers. Happy New Year teachers and I’m here to serve All of YOU! All Teachers, One Direction

AMBROSE M. BENNETT
Kagman, Saipan