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Thursday, May 27, 2010
Brian Colón Guest Blog: Education is the Cornerstone
This is a guest blog by Brian Colón, a candidate in the Democratic primary for New Mexico lieutenant governor.
Eighty percent of our New Mexico children are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade, according to a recently released report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The long-term impact of this on our children is profound. These early grades are the time when children “learn to read” so they can then “read to learn,” and there is a direct connection between low reading scores at this grade level and low high school graduation rates. Being 49th in the nation for reading proficiency at this level is a crisis and we must react. These are our children and grandchildren, and it is up to us to protect their future.
As a Democratic Candidate for Lt. Governor, my sole focus has been on education, job creation and retraining. Improving the economy is equally important, but that cannot be achieved without a well-educated workforce able to take on the kinds of jobs that will create a thriving economy. Last month I released a four-point plan to improve our educational system and provide training programs to help those already in the workforce to succeed. The plan can be read at www.ElectColon.com.
Quality education begins with quality pre-school programs that prepare small children to learn, and there is not enough capacity in New Mexico’s Pre-K programs to meet the needs of our state. Once in elementary and middle school, our children need classrooms where there are enough quality teachers, aides and resources to provide a good learning environment. Students, at any age, need the motivation that comes from many small successes, and should never have to feel discouraged because their poor reading skills make it difficult for them to read their math, science or history books. By high school, teen-agers should be able to see a path to a promising future – whether it is a four-year or community college, or a vocational training program preparing for real jobs in New Mexico. There are good jobs in New Mexico, it’s time we start training a workforce to meet them.
Quality education is the cornerstone to improving the lives of all New Mexicans, and everyone who can make a difference needs to contribute. Although sound educational policies and the commitment to provide the resources to implement them are important, each county has different challenges. We need parents, community members, and businesses to get involved with their local schools if we are to finally fulfill our commitment to our children.
This is a guest blog by Brian Colón. If you'd like to submit a piece for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link at the upper left-hand corner of the page.
To see our previous posts related to the 2010 lieutenant governor race, visit our archive.
May 27, 2010 at 09:50 AM in 2010 NM Lt. Governor Race, Brian Colon, Children and Families, Education, Guest Blogger | Permalink
Comments
A little understood aspect of this is standardized testing. The state has a contract worth probably millions a year under which several hundred people are hired (primarily at an office in Rio Rancho) to score reading, social studies, science tests that students have to take every year.
The Governor and Lt. Gov need to be very keenly interested in the way the scorers are managed, and how statistics are weighted.
My general suspicion is that this is very loosely monitored and that, since the contracts are worth so much, there is a great deal of pressure on whoever the contractor is, to skew the results at least slightly such that they are more likeable. The threat of losing the contract has got to be a heavy, heavy incentive whether anything is spoken to anyone or not. My sense is that New Mexico's government, whoever is responsible for oversight, isn't nearly aggressive enough in pushing for critical relevancy, as opposed to "good enough for government work."
Going back to putting emphasis on teaching and supporting the public K-12 system, and getting away from artificial testing, is essential to ensuring that the jobs of the future are attracted to New Mexico instead of somewhere else.
Posted by: Stuart Heady | May 27, 2010 10:06:58 AM
I have heard that Domingo Martinez' (re-election candidate for Santa Fe County Assessor campaign signs are being vandalized or disappearing altogether. For the past two weeks, my mission has been to scour areas of Santa Fe before posting to ensure it was a rampant problem. It is obvious, that a person or persons has painstakingly found almost very campaign sign belonging to Mr. Martinez and taking them. I could not even find a vandalized poster. This form of unhealthy competition is outrageous and ruins the spirit of our campaign season. I have written the editor of the SF New Mexican regarding this problem which may also affect other candidates during this race, they have not posted my concern.
Posted by: Cheryl Thorp-Maes | May 27, 2010 12:37:17 PM
Brian is just spouting the same old talking points. I'm a teacher and I know that this guy doesn't have the inner fortitude to last a full day in the classroom -- much less offer up substantive solutions. Of course Pre-K education is important. Thanks. Now what?
I hope people see through this empty rhetoric. Brian seems like Eddie Haskell to me. I bet he tattled a bunch when he was a kid...
Posted by: teacher's pet | May 27, 2010 3:31:56 PM
Brian Colon will be great for education, pre-K etc. His wife teaches and so he's learned what goes on in the classroom from the source. He will carry on where Denish left off. Rael knows nothing but letting contracts. Campos has RETA and that's it. Ortiz y Pino and Linda can't win. Support the candidate who is backed by AFT and all the labor unions. There is a reason AFT backed Colon.
Posted by: AFT member | May 27, 2010 3:41:44 PM
Mr Colon,
An important aspect of education is character education.
I am wondering if you think that role models for children should hold themselves accountable to the same standard of conduct they establish and enforce upon children?
The 90,000 of your constituents who are students in the APS, are expected to hold themselves accountable to a nationally recognized, accepted and respected code of ethical conduct; the Pillars of Character Counts!
Would you, if elected, hold educators accountable as role models of student standards of conduct?
I am grateful for your time and attention to my question.
Posted by: ched macquigg | May 31, 2010 8:53:09 PM
