A SIMILE is a literary device in which the word “like “ is used to compare two things. The only way Craig Garrison and I are alike is that we are both teachers at Marianas High School. From there, the difference is awesome.
In Jan. 2001 Craig called the first meeting of ACT and declared himself the president. He had no officers, no members, and ACT was unknown to teachers and legally a defunct organization. He wanted to become both the president and the teacher representative in the election that was held in that meeting. Unfortunately, he was not elected president and at a later election sponsored by the Board of Education, Craig Garrison was not elected the teachers’s representative. He lacked teacher support.
Now as everyone knows, I was elected by the teachers with over half of the teachers in the CNMI voting. I have enjoyed their support as well as support from politicians on Capitol Hill and people all over the island. By e-mail and in person, teachers and ACT officers have supplied me with information and objectives to present to BOE. This I have done, first in the spirit of cooperation and then when nothing occurred I took those arguments to the media.
So now comes Craig Garrison, self-proclaimed ACT president who never won elections and decides to become judge, jury and executioner for Mr. Keiper.
Well, Mr. Garrison—I suggest that you take your own advice and “shut up” because you are the person who stands alone!
FRANKLIN KEIPER
Dandan, Saipan
