HIS letter is in response to Mr. Franklin Keiper’s continued wit and wisdom about the trends in education here in the CNMI. I am a teacher here in the CNMI and have been for the past six years with exception to the current school year as I have to take care of my ailing wife.
Upon my return to the CNMI just two weeks ago, I have read numerous letters written by Mr. Keiper for the Variety. At first glance, knowing Mr. Keiper to be the Board of Education teacher representative I imagined his comments to be typical of the plight of many teachers. But as I continued to read I began to feel somewhat offended as Mr. Keiper’s views seemed to be very different from my own and indeed different from the majority of teachers that I know here on island.
Although, I can appreciate his need to voice his concerns in the realm of free speech, I take offense that he signs his letters as “teacher representative” to BOE. I feel that his comments would be better and more appropriately signed simply, “Franklin Keiper, A Thorn in the Side.” Because I know there is no way the majority of teachers on this island feel the way he does. As the teacher rep to BOE he is dutifully bound to voice our concerns collectively and not singularly his own nor those from a close circle of friends he may share his innermost thoughts with. I would have to say that the good nature of most teachers and the caring attitude of those teachers he is supposed to represent, especially our God fearing teachers, do not have the malicious, defaming, demeaning and often hateful discontent that Mr. Keiper expresses in his opinions about BOE and the education commissioner.
I feel that the teacher representative position in addition to voicing concerns of teachers should be one which works with BOE in a more harmonious nature, striving to improve the lives of teachers and students not by intimidating BOE to the point that the board members grimace at the sight of him. As I am sure Mr. Keiper will disappear into the woodwork one day soon, I would not wish BOE to label the teacher representative seat as one in which someone will attack them at every turn. One can get farther with a friend than with a foe. If BOE is to see things through the eyes of the teachers then we should not poke them in the eye as Mr. Keiper has done.
BOE is not the enemy of the teacher. If anything it is the tool for which the teachers may use to create a more pleasant environment. We are all quite aware of the problems that we as teachers face and the problems that the Public School System faces, but we are also aware that Rome was not built in a day. PSS is still a fledging school system in comparison to national standards and it will continue to experience problems in staffing, funding and administration. However, it will prevail and grow into a more efficient, more effectively operated organization in the months and years to come. But not with the help of those who demean it and defame it.
So at the end of the day I guess what I am saying is that Mr. Keiper should shut up! If he truly wants to represent teachers with his voice then maybe he should contact every teacher on island before submitting his comments and see if they agree. Otherwise please sign without “BOE Teacher Representative.”
CRAIG H. GARRISON
Chalan Kanoa, Saipan
