"Schools out for summer"... (already?)

D.P. Riley, educator

As educators (and we ALL should be), I thought you might find this of interest.

I find myself agreeing with him, but thought paragraph 7 would've been better with "some say" vice "left say" (education doesn't need to be divisive and politically polarizing [much like conservation, we should ALL aspire towards "better"]; when it becomes a political ball it deflates, like now)... From the Santa Fe New Mexican, 15 Jan. 2012:

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Opinion/Money-isn-t-everything-in-education

“Into the vast expanse of liberalism, sustainability, cars with "Potters for Peace" bumper stickers and the seemingly infinite number of middle-aged white guys with ponytails I step — a token conservative, selected by The New Mexican editorial brain trust to grace these opinion pages.

I'm not complaining about being outnumbered. In the words of Gus McCrae in Lonesome Dove when asked on his deathbed if he wanted his partners to track down the Plains Indians who mortally wounded him, "We got no call to be vengeful, they didn't invite us here."

My name is Rob Nikolewski and I knew when I moved to the City Different that liberalism runs deep. More like gallops, but that's OK.

I edit and write a website called Capitol Report New Mexico, covering the Roundhouse and all things political in this state. I get my paycheck from the Rio Grande Foundation, the free-market think-tank based in Albuquerque, and I generally agree with Thomas Jefferson's dictum that the government that governs least, governs best.

So, with TJ's words ringing in our ears, let's talk about public education.

The results in national surveys consistently place New Mexico in the bottom five of all 50 states in student performance.

"We've gotta spend more money," those on the left say, "for the sake of our children."

But while New Mexico might get a D or an F on results, when it comes to taxpayer dollars spent on public education, our state earns a solid B. We're 18th in per-pupil spending.

I'm not saying that money is not important in public education — it is — but when your spending is 18th in the nation and your kids' results are 48th, it shows the dollars are simply not being used efficiently.

Gov. Susana Martinez pushed a bill through the Legislature last year that will start grading public schools on an A-through-F scale and in the 30-day session that starts Tuesday, she's calling for an end to "social promotion" of kids who can't read proficiently by the end of the third grade as well as a bill offering merit pay for top teachers.

These are good ideas but the biggest factor in academic success does not involve money or legislation or even finding and keeping great teachers.

Add captionJustin: UNM graduation

The biggest factor is parents. (my emphasis added… pay)

Last month, an international study showed parental involvement is the largest single determinant in academic achievement. The overseer of the Program for International Student Assessment says the biggest gains come "when parents read a book with their child, when they talk about things they have done during the day, and when they tell stories to their children."

Many of us remember the refugees from Southeast Asia who came to Southern California in the mid-1970s. They had no money, had arrived in a strange country and could not even speak the language, much less read the textbooks their kids took home. But they emphasized to their children in no uncertain terms there was nothing more important than a quality education.

Those kids attended some of the area's worst public schools and not only graduated, many of them became valedictorians because their parents had inculcated a culture that valued academics.

As reluctant as many people are to say it, New Mexico simply hasn't sufficiently developed a culture that embraces scholastic achievement. We're much too complacent about accepting the status quo and it's time we snapped out of it. Some may not want to hear that, but it's true.

Our state's high school dropout rate is scandalous. A staggering 33 percent do not finish the 12th grade. But are parents rioting in front the PED Building? Do they attend parent-teacher meetings? Are they demanding their kids work harder? Are they demanding more of themselves?

Everybody says they value their children's education. But I'm willing to ask a harsh question: Really?

several educators (parents)

Rob Nikolewski can be contacted at rnikolewski@gmail.com.”

FYI, in their attempts to mend some of their educational short-comings Santa Fe's public school system is declaring next week as: "No name-calling week"... As our son Justin earnestly prepares for the Law School Aptitude Test, I reflect back to how seriously this system prepared him for college and the world beyond in what can best be described as random discharges into the air (few targets) and yelling: “Viva La Fiesta!” It reminded me of the Marines firing small arms off the fantail of the carrier I was on (CVA-34 USS Oriskany, now the world’s largest artificial reef) for target practice. One Marine informed me that they’d never missed hitting the Pacific yet. (Thank goodness for Meme’s [and I some] readings and stories, and educational participation from a young age).

Now we need to get ourselves enrolled for some Summer School (THANK YOU Jimmy):

SUMMERZCOOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFx6wsmBIno