by Krystal Paco

Guam - During a Guam Education Board meeting last night, teachers from northern high schools weren't so much upset about the implementation of schedule changes, but the fact that the board's making decisions without input from the very people their decisions effect.

If the belief is that by extending the length of class time would produce better test scores then the Guam Education Board has it all wrong according to teachers who showed up to a meeting with the board in Yigo last night. Teacher Kenneth Orland said, "With the state that our school is in, and the way our curriculum is set a new schedule would not help at all." Another teacher, Linda Taylor asked, "What's the purpose for the change? Was it the intent to impact student learning and if so by only changing the schedule and extending the school day it doesn't reflect a mastery of the core subject skills."

Simon Sanchez High School teachers like Orland and Taylor said the board shouldn't be focusing on changing school schedules but rather implementing real changes like the need to reform curriculum and fix school facilities, feedback they would have been glad to provide had teachers been asked for their input. Orland added, "I don't know what your offices are like, your environment but if you had to go to school in an environment that looks like very similar to a Third World prison - I don't know if being there for an extended time would be beneficial."

Taylor said, "Wouldn't be wise then to ask those that are involved then which is the teachers. What is a better suggestion to improve student learning and still master it. Wouldn't you agree that it makes sense to explore what resources are needed to improve those results as opposed to an arbitrary decision without input of those affected including the students and the parents."

Thursday evening's meeting in Yigo was the latest in a series of meetings the board has been holding with local high school communities to gather input - after the fact - on its decision to implement the new 4-AB schedule next school year. Orland said, "The issues of things like procurement , even just maintenance that seriously has to be addressed a schedule is just like a coat of paint on a broken down car. Right, the car it's still busted up, you need to get to the core before we look at schedules."

Taylor added, "It's like what Mr. Orland said - it's like putting paint over termite ridden wooden structure the paint doesn't do anything for it."

Lesson learned: GEB member Joe San Agustin tells KUAM he intends to motion to suspend the 4ab schedule at the next GEB meeting. A date has yet to be set.