The Columbine High School saga in Denver, Colorado has increased the level of sensitivity regarding a number of critical issues directly related to youth violence. Our Local has played a very progressive role in addressing those problems while placing viable solutions on the table. We urge you to review the following provisions which were negotiated into our Teacher’s Contract almost a decade ago.

• Article X.C.13 pg 44 Disclosure Act
• Article X.D. 15 pg. 46 Prohibits Counselors holding classes
• Article X.E. 1-3 pg 50 Discipline Committee
• Article X.I. 1-10 pg 54 Student Discipline Procedures

Nonetheless, there is a critical need for the following entities to develop a student profile accompanied with an action plan to identify early warning signs of troubled youth:

• Administration
• Teachers/Staff
• District Superintendent
• Monitors (Jr./Sr. High)
• Police Officers (Jr./Sr. High)
• Parent Teacher Organization

The Union Institute/United Teachers of Dade is offering a doctoral program in Education to stimulate major shifts in educational thinking and to provide leadership for teachers. Some of the following key benefits for the professional educator are:

• Teachers will acquire theoretical and applied knowledge which will enhance their effectiveness in the more collaborative school systems of the future;
• A valuable credential that will enhance one’s power to promote reform and restructuring of elementary and secondary education in America;
• Admissions to the program are based on a three (3) part application narrative as opposed to a GRE or MAT. This presents the applicant the opportunity to be admitted on the basis of their ability to think through Ph.D level work as opposed to admissions based on a test score. Value at the Union Institute is predicted on the development of higher level and critical thinking.

(The following letter was written by Senator Jn Baptiste)

Let me, first, apologize for the delay in responding to your letter. The concerns, which you have presented, are real and ones which I too have. As you rightly pointed out teachers, staff and even other students are put at risk when they are forced to work with students who have committed violent crimes in an unguarded and unprotected environment. An alternative school environment with practitioners and support staff trained to handle these particular students would ultimately be the best solution to this problem and one that I would fully support. This, however urgent, depends heavily on available funding.

by Former AFT President Hugo Dennis

   There is a defining moment for individuals, organizations, nations, events and even the planet. Each individual in his own way can look back to the same singular event in their lives that was extremely pivotal. That critical fork in the road comes and the decision that is made determines the path of the institution, individual or nation. Many such critical dates come to mind. July 4, 1776, July 3, 1848, October 12, 1492, August 1, 1930, and May 1, 1215.

For the teachers of the Virgin Islands, Thursday, May 16, 1968 was the day they said enough is enough! They said, "we are tired of being sick and tired, overworked and underpaid." The headline in the Daily News, May 14, 1968 "AFT Seeks Around the Clock Negotiations." The paper which sold for ten cents at the time continued "Inkling of Hope Fills Air After Monday’s Session." Both sides in the current controversy over Virgin Islands teachers’ wages have expressed cautious optimism over the possibility of avoiding a teacher’s strike. The teacher’s union set a Wednesday midnight deadline.

Norman Scherman, business manager of the Department of Education said, "we’re feeling optimistic. We are prepared to continue to negotiate." Joseph Cascella, American Federation of Teachers National Representative agreed saying "we want very much to wrap it up by Wednesday night. Negotiations must continue around the clock," he added. Commissioner of Education Arthur Richards told a radio audience that agreement had been reached on 140 of the 180 items proposed by the AFT. He added that a teachers strike would mean that many seniors could not graduate and thus not go to college next fall as they had planned. Cascella admitted the truth of the statement and said flatly "a strike could be devastating to seniors. There’s no question about it." He also added, "the blame would be squarely on the shoulders of the administration which has steadily refused to negotiate a wage plan satisfactory to the teachers."

The members of the negotiating team were for the AFT Cascella, St. Thomas-St. John President, Hugo Dennis and St. Croix AFT President Raymond Moorehead; and for the administration, Assistant Commissioner Charles Turnbull and Education Department Business Manager Norman Sherman.

Raising Student Achievement: An Internet Resource Guide for Redesigning Low-Performing School.

Access on-line information about how to fix one of this nation’s most persistent problems:schools that don’t work. This resource guide presents ideas, information, and materials which educators and policymakers can use to help foster educationally sound efforts to turn around low performing schools. The site includes an AFT policy statement on redesigning low-performing schools, legislative updates and guidance, profiles of selected districts, sample contract language information on research backed programs, guidance on how to effectively select and implement such programs, links to additional resources on school redesign, and more. Visit the site at

The results of J. Antonio Jarvis School clearly demonstrate that our level of esprit de corps is in need of serious improvement.                       Scale 1-10 10 (being the highest)

Effectiveness of Union Officers/Building Representatives. 8

Effectiveness of Jarvis Administration. 3

Student deportment/respect for adults. 3 Fairness of school administrators. 4

Evidence of shared decision making. 2

Adequate supplies. 3

Visibility of Administrators. 4

Enjoy working at Jarvis School. 4

Administrators knowledge of what is happening on the campus. 4

Handling of discipline problems. 4

-great staff

-the Assistant Principal has more control over particular situations

-faculty is fun and considerate

-team teaching techniques are used

-Administrator is not truthful

-overcrowding

-administration has difficulty with effective management skills

-poor administration

What are the beginning and completion dates for each project?

How much monies will the government have to spend once these projects are completed and turned over to the territory? Will additional employees have to be hired? What about electricity, water and maintenance costs?                  Does the government have available land on St. Thomas/St. John to swap for retroactive wages?                       Will Prosser agree, in writing, to purchase all construction supplies, materials from local vendors?          Will Prosser hire all local contractors to build these projects?                     Are negotiations final? Who served as government members of the negotiating team?                             How much estimated revenue will be generated (placed into the territorial treasury) on an annual basis for the next 30 years?                                    How much government revenue will be forfeited in lieu of benefits and tax exemptions under the Prosser Plan?  Is Prosser in danger of losing his share of the tele-communications industry to his competitors?          What is the proposed interest rate on home mortgages which will be provided to land owners under the Prosser Plan?                                   What will be the average cost for a 3 bedroom home?                                  Will construction of these projects mean the importation of outside labor which has the awesome potential to burden or fragile socio-economic/political structure?   Will any of the capital required to fund these projects be placed into the Government Development Bank?    Can the VI Government afford to provide 100% tax exemptions for yet another corporation?                         How much of the AT&T settlement shall be earmarked for the Union Arbitration Award and Increment Fund? When shall these monies be deposited into said fund?

Prior to the founding of our Union, over thirty years ago, our experience was one of abuse, as manifested in poor working conditions, overcrowded classroom, and low wages, among other things. These conditions triggered the need for improvements within the profession. While there has been improvements in teacher and student performances, there has also been gains with the respect to our collective bargaining agreement. The reduction in class size, increased wages (though we are still owed thousands) and better working and learning conditions at individual work sites have been enjoyed by all. There lies the danger of complacency in the educational community.

Perhaps our Local 1825 has been remiss in reminding our general membership that these gains would never have been made had our Union not locked horns with the "powers to be."

As a result, rampant apathy has been the order of the day, even in the recent attacks by supposedly responsible individuals.