By Hallie Richwine

The Public Forum on Thursday, September 20 at WNMU’s Miller Library gave Democratic hopefuls the chance to speak out about the current state of education in New Mexico. Jamie Newton served as the moderator and the panelists included Phyllis McDonald of Lordsburg Municipal Schools; Barbara Pearlman, retired educator from the Truth or Consequences School District and 2011 Golden Apple recipient; Howie Morales, candidate for Lieutenant Governor; Karen Whitlock, candidate for New Mexico House of Representatives District 38; and Rudy Martinez, incumbent from District 39.

Morales was first to speak, “It is education that is the biggest concern, and it should be, because you can link economic development and you can link jobs and quality of life. Education is the heart of that.”

Morales said he was proud to be from the area, having attended public school in Silver City and then WNMU for both undergraduate and graduate school. He also said the current testing protocol limits the opportunities for learning, forcing educators to concentrate too much on teaching to pass specific tests.

Martinez followed Morales, “This is an important topic for all of us,” he said. His concern is the extensive testing is pushing quality educators out of the field out of frustration for the system. Martinez specifically mentioned Justin Wecks, former educator and school board member, as an example of a ”fabulous teacher who couldn’t stand it anymore so he left.”

Whitlock was the last of the candidates to make introductory statements. She believes the best way to improve the system is to focus on the younger students. “Why can’t we give them the best possible start in life. Then when they go to school, when they hit third grade, they need to be able to read. If we start at zero, there would be no excuse to not be reading at a third-grade level.”

Newton introduced McDonald, the first of the two educators of the panel. A fourth-generation teacher, McDonald said the three things she feels are the biggest barriers to quality education in New Mexico are the level of poverty, geographic distance from outside experiences, and the lack of time that parents and students have to focus on studies.

Pearlman followed McDonald and said former Governor Bill Richardson once asked her what she would do to improve the education of students. “No elementary class should be more than fifteen students,” Pearlman said. She taught in high school and said at that level you can have twice as many students, but in the younger grades, students need more attention.

Martinez agreed that poverty was a large factor, and that it is a complex issue. “How do we address that issue? Is it by appropriating more money, is it by creating classes for parents, is it by placing students in other communities? I don’t think those are the answers.”

McDonald said affordable daycare would help families, so older siblings or grandparents aren’t stuck with the burden. Pearlman added another suggestion, that access to wi-fi would equalize some of the playing field.

“Some (students) don’t have access and there is a technical divide,” Pearlman said, “We may despair technical innovations, but it is a necessity.”

Morales said he has been out of the classroom for a while, but he relies on the true experts to find the balance that is sorely needed. He said he favors a holistic look at students when he is looking for new ideas. “It is about human beings, not data points we are looking to evaluate.”

Newton gave a brief summary of points that were considered, the main concern being the testing procedure versus time to develop skills. Factors outside the classroom included hunger, illness, lack of resources, and in this area of the country, even deportation.

“The fear of participating in sports, in extracurricular activities, the fear of parents that children may be caught or deported, these are real issues in these small communities,” said Martinez.

Pearlman said she saw this fear, but after students were able to obtain DACA status she saw students come out to dances and attend games. “This is a rich place to live culturally.”

“I haven’t witnessed that fear,” McDonald said of her experiences in Lordsburg, ”but I know some were deported immediately after graduation, waiting to be sent to Mexico where they didn’t remember ever living.”

Wecks asked Morales what was meant by above and below the line funding.

“When we put dollars below the line, we are not equalizing them. We see dollars, six to eight million, that go to testing. Schools can’t utilize those dollars. We want more dollars above the line, more dollars need to go directly to the schools,” Morales said.

As far as being fiftieth in education, Morales tried to clarify that as well. While it can be dollars spent per student, test scores, or an overall snapshot, Morales said Education Weekly magazine maintains the rankings of the states from year to year.

An audience member challenged Martinez on his view that poverty was complex. “Sometimes we look at issues different ways,” he said. Even if funds are appropriated, there are other issues like health care and the lack of primary care physicians.

Third Thursdays are sponsored by MEChA de Western New Mexico University, WNMU J. Cloyd Miller Library, and the Democratic Party of Grant County, New Mexico.