The most overused word in the recent primary was “bold.” Candidates were claiming they had bold solutions for New Mexico’s myriad problems and failings.
Then we got the Kids Count report, reminding us that New Mexico is again 50 out of 50 in children’s wellbeing.
The bare statistics in that report show that New Mexico children’s literacy rate is much worse than the poverty rate. We have 23% of New Mexico children in poverty, almost 50% higher than the national average of 16%. But the rate of fourth graders who cannot read proficiently is 79%, 11 points above the national average – or, expressed another way, two out of three children who can’t read are not in poverty, so poverty is not their issue.
At the same time, we have a reported $3 billion or so in extra state revenue floating around.
I have been collecting bold ideas for improving New Mexico education, and the extra $3 billion makes me feel somewhat bolder. If New Mexico really wants to implement bold solutions for education, here are a few.
- Demonstrate to students that New Mexico values their education by sending them to school in good buildings. Rebuild or remodel every outdated school in the state so that school buildings are not only safe, healthful and comfortable but also handsome and well maintained. Include single-stall gender-neutral restrooms for students with special needs so we stop wasting energy on restroom arguments.
- Do whatever it takes to teach every possible student to read. This might require significant changes in school transportation systems so students can stay for extended hours and have a ride home. Teach their parents if that proves to be necessary. Treat this like a crisis, because it is.
- Similarly, do whatever it takes to get absentee students back to school. Maybe that means a new truancy police or new solutions for homeless students. Students who skip school are likely the same students who didn’t learn to read. The latest report from the Legislative Education Study Committee says 40% of students miss 10% or more of school days. Why would you go to school if you can’t understand what’s being taught because you can’t read?
- New Mexico has made a start on financial literacy. It’s not enough in this world of complex technology and myriad hazards. Teach life skills beginning in fourth grade, with age-appropriate topics such as balancing a bank account, avoiding online predators, understanding social media, and especially basic parenting skills to prevent the next generation of Children Youth and Families Department tragedies.
- Make the teaching of civics mandatory beginning in fourth grade.
- Ban smart phones, period. The studies are conclusive that smart phones are making a generation of children lonely and miserable. This must be done on a whole school or whole district basis. School districts can decide whether to ban phones entirely or permit phones that only call and text. Ensure every school has a process for emergency contact by parents.
- Let students practice cooperation by offering a wide choice of team activities, including sports, debate, music groups, science projects and so on.
- Teach responsibility: Starting in first grade, devote five minutes of every school day to cleaning up. Time and level of responsibility increase in high school.
- Restructure the relationships between the schools and other government agencies to overcome bureaucratic boundaries and ensure seamless cooperation.
- All of the above requires full staffing by qualified professionals, and how to achieve that requires a separate discussion.
If I were in the Legislature I would advocate for every one of these proposals. I hope they will all serve as discussion points. Contact Merilee Dannemann through www.triplespacedagain.com.