Members of the United Messengers of Peace at the meeting on August 15. *Photos by Katherine Massopust
By Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – The Messengers of Peace, a student-run non-profit organization held their first meeting at Perth Amboy High School on Thursday, August 15. The group consists of Honors Students who want to voice their concerns on the redefinition/elimination of the Honors programs in the Perth Amboy Public School System. The students: Rafael Tafur, May Bileye, Stephanie Rodriguez (President and Founder), Rosemary Nivar, Henry Rosado, Haliee Baez, Maitta Harris and Randy Rivas all spoke. They presented their feelings and concerns about how eliminating the Honors Programs in the early grades and grades 9th & 10th would affect them.
Student Rosemary Nivar spoke first, “We are trying to make a difference. We all spoke out about the removal of Honors. We’re just a bunch of students who want to have their opinions heard.”
At the past special meeting called by Superintendent Caffrey to discuss the Honors Program took place at the Barracks Street Administration Building. At this meeting, Board of Education members, union representatives and certain community members were asked to leave. The head of security stated that Dr. Caffrey instructed him to ask these people to leave. Some parents were allowed to enter. Students were only allowed to enter if they had their student ID on them.
Honors Student Stephanie Rodriguez
The students wanted their voices to be heard. “We’re the future of Perth Amboy. My parents want to be here to find the American Dream. I have an opinion to be heard and we all are to be taken seriously,” Nivar stated.
Student Henry Rosado stated his feelings, “Dr. Caffrey made a blog on PAPS.net. On that page she lists the new Common Core Curriculum Standards (CCCS) and she wants to increase the rigor. I understand her opinion and I know where she is coming from. But you are forcing kids to take classes that they are not ready for.”
Rosado continued, “We are missing motivation (in the school system). Nobody is going to want to do the work. Honor students will lose their drive. I’m going to be with students who can’t work as the same pace as me. If you have a classroom full of standard kids, the Honors kids could get bullied. They (Honor Students) can lose their chance for admission into college. With a lot of colleges, if they don’t see Honors on your transcript, they don’t even look at you. What am I working for? Also, a standard kid will get bullied in a class full of Honor students.”
Rosado continued, “We shouldn’t be deleting our tracks, but make them more effective. There should be better motivation. We should enforce student morale. We should have fundraisers and have field trips starting in elementary school. We need to increase school spirit. We need more than discipline; instead of sending you home we should have more counseling. There should be motivation – not force.”
Student Haliee Baez stated, “This summer I worked with kids from eight years to high school age. I tell them to get into the Honors Program. It motivates them and gives them a boost later in life. It’s a 21st Century Program. It opens our eyes to the generations of tomorrow. We have our voices – we need to remember the younger kids. Honors did a lot for me – not only academically but personally. The Honors Program made me what I am today. It’s a reward to us. We don’t need to be brought back – we need to be brought a forward. I took a regular English class. There, I was an outcast. Everyone looked down on me.”
Student Randy Rivas stated, “We now have a choice: Regular or A.P.” The students stressed the fact that it is too difficult to take a full course load of A.P. classes even if it is schedule permitting. The students pointed out that other schools have an Honors Program so why can’t Perth Amboy?
Student Maitta Harris said, “This is a community issue. We need the right classes to give us knowledge.”
The students held up signs and explained the math track for regular and Honors students. It clearly showed that Honors Students were on a more advanced level of mathematics for college, including Calculus in the 11th and 12th grade. “We’re at a different level. It makes no sense to be pushed into one class. Everyone looks down at Perth Amboy but we really are a good school. Some of us want to go to Harvard. Keep Honors so I can go,” Maitta stated
Student Rafael Toffera stated, “I want to apply to Harvard. It’s not fair that the Honors Program is being taken away from us. We should have the best education possible.”
Student May Bileye spoke about bullying issues, “It’s demeaning to both groups of students. A generalized student was placed in one of our Honors classes. She wasn’t happy. She looked like a lost puppy.”
Student Rosemary Nivar stated, “We didn’t always have the same experience. There is Spanish II Honors and Spanish II Regular. When I was in the Honors classroom we spoke Spanish. In the Regular class we were supposed to be speaking Spanish. I couldn’t work at my pace; I had to take it notches down.”
The President of the group, Stephanie Rodriguez said, “Dr. Caffrey is leaving Honors for Juniors and Seniors and taking away everything else. Honors had changed the way I see life. I don’t think it’s fair to the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Grade. I’ve been in the hospital recently. I got to meet a psychologist. He asked me how I was doing emotionally. He said what Honors meant to him back in the 1970’s and it wasn’t a big deal back then. I also got to meet Miss America. She went into Honors in the 10th Grade. She regrets she didn’t have Honors earlier because she felt she would have won more pageants. Why do you want to take away our opportunities? Honors teach you to become independent. It is going to make us better doctors and better lawyers. You can’t take that away. We should expand the Honors Program.”
The meeting was opened to the public to speak. Maria, a student said, “I never knew the Honors Program. I would like to be somebody, to be in an Honors Class and to go to college. I would like to try it.”
Resident Lee Darden stated, “I have a four year old daughter and an eight year old son. What is your call of action?”
Rodriguez answered, “What we want is to spread the word. It’s your education; it’s your future.”
Student Haliee Baez stated, “We want other student’s opinions. Let the kids be heard!”
Resident Karen Varela stated, “I have gone to Shull School from 1960 to 1969 and PAHS from 1969 to 1973. I was in the accelerated classes. The same people were in all of my classes.” Varela also stated that the Board of Education members present at this meeting should speak.
Rodriguez stated that Superintendent Dr. Caffrey explicitly forbid any Board of Education Members from speaking at this meeting. “I have the email,” Rodriguez stated.
Resident Sharon Hubberman asked what she could do to help. “I can be an advocate for your case. I want you to achieve what your goal is. Don’t give up. Each and every one of you is a leader. Keep an open mind. Seize the moment. Seize the opportunities.”
Rodriguez repeatedly stressed the point that the Messengers of Peace was strictly a non-political group. “Politics has played with my education.”
The next Board of Education meeting is on Thursday, August 29. The Messengers of Peace students plan to attend.
