To the Editor:
On Jan. 15, the community was invited to the auditorium in Bayonne High School to attend a “financial aid workshop” sponsored by the guidance department.
The truism is: no financial aid until accepted; no acceptance without applying; and you can’t apply without an application.
It was refreshing and even heartwarming to listen to proud parents exclaim about their child’s college acceptances. Both the parents and the students must be congratulated.
Needless to say, the faculty was a major factor too in helping, directing, encouraging, counseling, and writing. Since this could not occur during classes, these actions were completed before or after school, without compensation and with a selfless demeanor.
A dismissive Board of Education would no doubt characterize these sacrifices as saying, “That is their job.” Wrong! This is a clear example of “commitment,” which seems to be overlooked or ignored in contract negotiations by a board that is unwilling to reward teachers espousing a “student first” professionalism. Bayonne has been cited for excellence in education. Did I miss something?
CHARLES NUZIALE
Guidance counselor