MY father said “Franklin, if you’re going to do something, do it right or don’t do it at all.” It looks like Herman’s father told him the same thing—because when he decided to show his brand of politics and make everyone mad at him, he sure did it right.
Last Friday’s news resulted in a firestorm of protest from every area of the CNMI—and I even received an e-mail from a man on the beach in downtown Honolulu. After the Board of Education voted to renew Rita Inos as commissioner of education, many people asked me: How could this have happened?
Herman T. Guerrero simply made up his own rules! The man that e-mailed me from Honolulu is a retired principal who helped create an instrument of evaluation about the time that Rita Inos came into office. All of the present board members were on the board when that document was set up except Herman. Knowing that, Herman T. Guerrero simply declared that there was no instrument and then he appointed an ad hoc committee to establish one using Herman’s rules—only those who agreed with Herman could vote. Politicians, teachers, parents were all left out. Principals whose contract renewal is in the hands of Rita Inos were allowed to vote, so to speak. A very neat package that would guarantee that Rita Inos would win this election. When that happened, Herman was surprised and delighted to announce this decision. Rita Inos too, was surprised—she had finally won something—and believe it or not, she said that she would have to think it over.
So, how does Herman T. Guerrero’s politics work? Well, suppose he was a basketball coach, and when the other team came to play Herman would announce his rules. Only half the court can be used, and only Herman’s team could play, and then at the end of the game he declares his team the winner. And this kind of leader is going to lead CNMI education for the next four years? Unbelievable!
What can be done about it? Well, teachers can leave the islands or like some local teachers have been doing just quit and find a good job in the local government or they can all get together and call a major strike in all public schools including Northern Marianas College. Politicians could get busy and legally revamp the laws governing the Public School System and this time set it up like a regular school system—not like a business corporation like it is now. Also, the local government could legislate some kind of oversight, like a secretary of education, to control the board when it gets out of control like it is now. The local government needs to create some kind of accountability program for the Public School System.
Change depends on how mad people really are. If you’re mad enough to do the work to make a difference you probably can.
FRANKLIN KEIPER
Teacher representative
Board of Education
