We sincerely hope that Virgin Islands students will not be short-changed again by a whitewash of the deplorable situation in the territory's public schools.
As officials of the Middle States Commission review the conditions that caused them to withdraw accreditation in the first place, we hope they will ask only one question: What has changed?
If nothing has changed, then nothing will be gained by returning accredited status to the schools.
Promises will not help. We have heard them before, all too often. Now we need meaningful, measurable steps to deal with the serious problems facing our schools: lack of teachers and a substitute teacher pool, poor attendance by both students and teachers, and lack of site-based management.
It is common practice in the territory to gloss over or minimize shortcomings. Of course, that practice is not limited to the Virgin Islands. It happens at all levels of public management.
In the interest of our children, we hope Middle States doesn't adopt or allow that approach.
The territory’s top officials received numerous and highly audible warnings, which were roundly ignored. Then suddenly, when the consequences of their inaction became known, everyone began scrambling to beg forgiveness, ask for one more chance and make promises of change.
Accepting promises in lieu of real and substantial change serves no one.
We cry about how the loss of accreditation will hurt the youth. What about the lack of teachers, supplies and adequate facilities?
These things can change. All that is required is the will to do things differently. No more excuses, no more pandering – radical change and nothing less is what will serve our students.