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Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 30 April 2014 30 April 2014

Photos Courtesy of Sandy Feutz

Article by Charlie McKee

Lorna Rubelman, Chair of the Third Thursday Forum, introduced the April 24 forum at Western New Mexico University's Miller Library by stating that "there is a move afoot to privatize schools and de-fund public education." New Mexico State Representative Rudy Martinez, who moderated the forum, added that this was a challenging topic and should be a "top priority for the State, our children, and our community."

The official title of the forum was "How Partisan Politics Have Snared Public Education," and its panel consisted of Stephanie Ly, American Federation of Teachers chapter president; Cristobal Rodriguez, New Mexico State University Professor of Educational Policy; Justin Wecks, President of the Grant County Chapter of the National Education Association; and Margaret Flores-Begay, Manager of the Sixth Judicial District Adult Drug Court and Family Court.

Each panelist gave his or her view of the topic, and Martinez subsequently opened the forum to questions and answers from the audience. The panelists' perspectives were presented as follows:

After the panelists spoke, Martinez opened the forum to questions posed to the panel from the audience. The questions included the following:

1) What have we learned from the New Orleans model of having 80% charter schools?
Answer: Still unknown because of limited accountability and measures in charter schools. Some do serve disadvantaged kids, and there are good and bad results. The New Orleans experience needs continuing observation.
2) How are New Mexico state education standards affected by under-funding policies?
Answer: Setting of state standards used to be collaborative with educators and other policy makers in the state, but Governor Martinez operates in a "stand-alone" mode in her own interests.
3) Is there a difference between for-profit and non-profit (such as Aldo Leopold) charter schools and their success rates?
Answer: Community organized schools deserve kudos for their efforts, but struggle with lack of resources and the experience of the public schools.
4) What happens to incompetent teachers as a result of NCLB testing policies?
Answer: The New Mexico state statute provides an easy method by which to fire incompetent teachers, and the union cannot protect incompetent teachers against this. Five percent of New Mexico teachers have been terminated.
5) What happened to developmentally formulated curricula?
They have been eliminated, and the first grade curriculum has been pushed downward into the kindergarten level. This has caused psychological and emotional problems with young children who are not developmentally ready to learn reading and other advanced curricula. In addition, play-centered learning has been virtually eliminated. Home-based and community-based (including "abuelitas") early childhood education are needed as part of the overall system.

The forum was then adjourned to dinner.