By Luis M. Beauchamp

Published in The San Juan Star, Nov. 22, 2006 

It's a frightening concept to be a teacher, but inspiring, too. When I was approached by Sapientis to become a volunteer teacher for a day at a public school during Semana Sapientis (Oct. 23- 27), I was thrilled but apprehensive.

I have enormous respect for teachers. They, including my mother who was my teacher in sixth grade and high school, shaped my early years. At first I felt I would be intruding in an unknown field. But then I realized that I have worthy experiences to share from the many lessons I have learned in my career.

And we all are teachers for our children, in all walks of life and in different contexts. Every time we say something to a child, he or she will remember it and potentially turn it into a lesson. In light of that, an opportunity like the one Sapientis offered me was something I couldn’t let pass.

Sapientis is a non-profit organization, founded in 2002 by philanthropist Vadim Nikitine and Kristin Ehrgood, whose mission is to improve the level of public education in Puerto Rico through a series of leadership programs. This method was created at Harvard University and has been successfully implemented in more than 80 countries around the world.

I and 14 other professionals shared with public school children. Each of us taught one class in a public school. My assignment was at the República de Perú Elementary School, in Santurce, to teach math. That meant there was no room for vague responses or half-truths, the way I like it.

It was a wonderful and revealing experience. To be exposed to the fresh and inquisitive minds of young students is a stimulating experience. It refreshed my awareness of my role in society and reminded me that I am always a teacher. It also made me conscious of my role as a student: A good teacher lets himself be taught by his students as well.

The most important lesson from Semana Sapientis though is that we must all commit to improve our public education system because it has a direct effect on our quality of life.

We should always be optimistic and work to make things happen. But the fact remains that 776 out of 1,523 public schools —or 51%— are not achieving the minimum progress required by federal standards. Fact: 52% of our students are not sufficiently skilled in the Spanish language. Fact: The government invests 7.5 times more annually in a convicted felon than what it spends to keep a child in public school. Fact: 47% of our students are not competent in mathematics. Fact:  40% of Puerto Ricans 25 years old or more have not completed high school, and worse, some 251,000 people have not even surpassed the fifth grade.
 

Quality of life begins in school. Studies show that if education levels increased by an average of one year, arrests would fall 11 percent, and homicides and assaults would fall 30 percent. It seems we take our public school system for granted. A public education system like ours is really something to treasure. We must not let it collapse.

Our public education system is going through a tough time. It is the duty of the government, of the private sector and of every individual to help. There is no room for excuses. If our children’s education is defective, our society will be as well.

Luis Beauchamp is President and CEO of First Bank.