School parent says hard copy packets lack communication

No communication between the main office and public schools - as one parents expresses this is the core of major problem with hard copy packet assignments not graded, and students' education on the line.

"Since they started the hard copy, started the hard copy out of 15 assignments, only one was graded. Come on!" challenged a female caller to The Link this morning. This parent's speaking up for her child, and all public school students facing the same struggle. As she explains, the Guam Department of Education is lacking in grading hard copy packet assignments.

"I told his teachers, I am not submitting any more assignments I will not be picking it up until you guys all have every assignment accounted for, but you expect kids to touch that folder and what for your safety you are not going to touch it for three to four, five days? Practice what you preach!" she continued.

With GDOE students heading into the second quarter, this is now affecting their report cards.  The parent says teachers do not touch student's folders until at least four days after it's turned in.

"No memo that was ever sent out so here as a parent I am picking up this folder and so I need to give it straight to my child? No!  So, I implemented their same protocol. My kids are not going to touch their folders until 3 to 4 days after I pick it up for their safety," she said.

Frustrated and concerned for her child's education, she is calling on the superintendent to fix this issue.

"But Jon Fernandez, sir, seriously you need to be on top of this," she stated.

And she has this message to share: "So, my message to the superintendent are you seeking and begging for a lawsuit? Because I am one parent who will not tolerate this."

The parents adds That she is already in close communication with an attorney regarding the matter. KUAM reached out to GDOE for a comment, spokeswoman Isa Baza provided this response.

"We listened to this parent's concerns and acknowledge that the hard copy instructional model has challenges, many of which this parent noted. Our approach is for all schools to be as accommodating as possible and we continue to ask parents to discuss these matters with their child's school so we can improve our processes and communication. In light of these challenges, we hope more students will opt to go online as we distribute laptops and work on addressing internet access."

This morning on the "link" a GDOE teacher chimed in on the parent's concern.

"But I think at the core of this whole thing is just the, again like the parent said communication and just a little more maybe not so much leniency but some level of understanding because man I am…students you know you might miss one or two," she said.  "As unfortunate as it is to say , we are humans you know too as teachers and we make mistakes so definitely I want to say I can level with the administration."

Across the board, from the main office, to teachers, parents and students...all agree there are challenges with the hard copy learning model.

"We are all going through this together but don't try and beat a child down and belittle the child, especially parents who are doing everything they can," she said.