Dear Editor:
As Hoboken’s state Assemblyman and a public school teacher myself, I have watched the recent Hoboken Board of Education meetings with much interest. Teachers have been forced to defend programs that have long been recognized in the community as going above and beyond the ordinary teaching parameters and have been innovative and creative in their educational approach.
In the case of the Hoboken High School Theatre Arts program, this program has been recognized numerous times on the state level at Paper Mill Playhouse, Rutgers University and Montclair State University, for overall productions as well as individual student achievement. In addition, the director of the program received the National Theatre Arts Teacher of the Year “Jimmy” Award sponsored in part by the Nederlander Organization, a major producer of Broadway productions. In the Johns Hopkins program, that instructor has organized a curriculum that has enabled students previously non-achieving in math to not only achieve, but thirst for knowledge and pursue their dreams.
These results are tangible and not in dispute, and yet, the Hoboken Board of Education is supporting the new superintendent, who is not renewing the teacher contracts of these two educators for next year, which effectively removes them from the Hoboken Public Schools. The superintendent has presented his reasons, which deal with liability and policy issues, but do not question the tangible, real, results achieved under the two teachers’ direction. Both programs supposedly will be preserved and supported, but without their founders, how will these programs achieve the same results?
I have proudly represented Hoboken since 1999, when I served as 4th Ward Councilman. I take my role today in the state Assembly very seriously and still stay abreast of the issues that affect my neighbors not only today but also in the future. These two programs have created a solid foundation for many family, friends and neighbors that I know personally. Their children, who began in Hoboken Public Schools, are now returning to Hoboken, having their own children and now they, too, are beginning to enjoy these same programs. There are new parents are volunteering, just as their parents did, and helping with the productions. These programs become the community building vehicles that public education was meant to create.
As a father, an educator, and son to a former member of the Board of Education, I know firsthand how many hours are required for this job. The preparation for the monthly public meetings is extremely detailed and the committee meetings and evening events take up a great amount of time without any compensation. These elected officials are public servants of the highest order. However, they also have a responsibility equal to mine; to listen, and more importantly, investigate creative solutions that safeguard our institutions while allowing our best programs to stretch the envelope of innovation.
In the situation of the theatre program and the Johns Hopkins program, each board member needs to seriously consider their stance. As Hoboken’s Assemblyman, I always vote by balancing the integrity of our institutions with the need to allow for the creation of a more brilliant future. I strongly urge each board member, who has been elected in the past two years after pledging to protect these very programs, to answer just one question:
Are you really putting kids first?
Sincerely,
Ruben J. Ramos, Jr.
Assemblyman, 33rd District