Rights and freedoms under BOE

BOE’s manipulation of this letter issue and use of BOE materials is a clear example of rights violations under BOE. But teachers and the community are smart and they should see BOE is trying its best to control and even eliminate me to end teachers’ chances for collective bargaining by taking away my freedom and rights.

The questions still remain, however: Does BOE have the power to take away freedom of expression, freedom of the Teacher Rep. to communicate with teachers, the freedom to communicate with the freedom to use my own time? So what happened to teachers’ and the BOE Teacher Rep.’s right under the CNMI Constitution and federal law?

A “personal” letter hurt Mr. Guerrero’s feeling but instead of keeping it personal the whole CNMI is informed. The personal complaint of Mr. Guerrero about my personal letter should have gone through a grievance procedure without involving the board and entire CNMI. I haven’t done anything disruptive to the Board’s operations and functions. In fact, I have already made some contributions to new policy.

I would also like to know what happened to the working relationship the BOE and I had established and our agreement to work things out among ourselves without going to the media? This was the only real disappointment for me in this matter.

As for my use of the letterhead, anyone with an ounce of objectivity in them will know that I have a right to use the BOE stationary and other things of PSS, just like any other BOE member. BOE members just don’t have a need to communicate with teachers like I do as the BOE Teacher Rep. I am a BOE member, not a BOE puppet and for the chair to approve every letter and my every act would mean the chair is the Teacher Rep. and not me. Whatever happened to my freedom to do my job?

Even if BOE does not like the communication, it is my fiduciary duty to assist teachers with their concerns and goals. It is also my right to communicate with teachers in a formal and “uncensored” manner as their Teacher Rep. on the Board. The only stipulation is that I cannot represent myself as speaking for the entire BOE unless authorized to do so.

I do want to apologize to my fellow teachers and anyone else that might have felt offended by my letter but this is just another distraction that the average person should be able to see through and teachers shouldn’t let this derail their efforts to have a real voice in BOE policy through bargaining. Teachers need only to continue working with their school Rep.’s and by showing up for the teachers’ meeting on the May 29, from 10am to noon at the Multi-Purpose Center.

The good part about all the fuss BOE is making about taking away my rights and freedom over a finger is nothing – only a reminder of the old South. This “temporary” loss of my rights to use BOE stationary will have no affect on teachers and their rights to bargain. Teachers don’t need to do or say anything; just remain supportive, attend meetings and cooperate with your school level reps.

Teachers’ rights will become part of CNMI history as teachers have the law on their side and the law will always prevail in time. Teachers only need to stay the course and let their reps do the rest. All teachers, one direction.

Ambrose M. Bennett
BOE Teacher Rep.