New Bedford Educators' Association President Louis St John unequivocally supports New Bedford teachers and the district, you can't separate one from the other. In my opinion, he provides the teachers with first-rate representation.
Are there educational issues and problems that need to be resolved collectively, by all? Sure there are, without doubt or debate.
At Mayor Jon Mitchell's final education forum held on Tuesday, March 13, at Normandin Middle School, Lou St. John not only did the right and honorable thing by supporting first and foremost New Bedford's teachers, but he also supported the entire district.
St. John is to be applauded and congratulated for his hard work and dedication to the teachers of New Bedford, and all unions in general.
He has earned the respect and admiration of other teachers' union presidents, including Janet Anderson, president of Taunton's Educators Association, and Paula Kaylor of the Fall River Educators Association.
I applaud St. John's representation and passion for the school system in which he clearly is invested.
I also applaud him for standing up for great and dedicated teachers in New Bedford's system, and standing up to those who criticize our teachers and the system.
Pastor David Lima, executive director of the Inter-Church Council, gave a profound presentation and offered a positive and proactive approach to the initiatives that must be addressed by ALL parties.
The educational issues impacting New Bedford's school system were not caused by teachers. In fact, these problems have been in existence for a very long time and most of them begin in the home environment.
As the New Bedford Public Schools system stands today, these issues and problems have been caused by, and not corrected by, many past New Bedford superintendents, past and present elected School Committee members, (including past mayors), and many parents and students disinterested in academic and studies and educational accomplishments.
The eighth-grader who so eloquently spoke during the mayor's forum addressed the issue of students who don't take education seriously and how those students' parents need to be involved in the educational process for their child.
The research and facts will accurately demonstrate that Superintendent Mary Louise Francis has done more to improve and bolster New Bedford's educational system in the last 15 months, which is more than the last four superintendents combined.
Dr. Francis was not responsible for block scheduling, whose repair should be a priority, or the design of the elementary report card. Both were the creation and idea of former Superintendent Michael E. Longo.
We should always think clearly and sincerely about New Bedford's educational requirements and needs, and consider the following as a guide:
Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable.
I will stand with Lou St. John and the NBEA, as a brother and friend.
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