“Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone,” wrote great American writer Gertrude Stein, and so here I am raising my voice: THANK YOU! Following this midterm election, New Mexicans have much to be happy about and celebrate, and this New Mexican is deeply grateful for all of you.
Last Tuesday, New Mexico became the first state in the nation to create a permanent fund for childcare and early childhood education. After ten years of advocacy from activists and organizations like OLÉ, NM Voices For Children, CHI St. Joseph’s Children and NEA-NM, on Election Day 2022 more than 70% of New Mexican voters agreed to amend the state constitution and improve the future generation of our own kids in unimaginable ways. By allocating about $150 million a year to early learning, with another $100 million bolstering K-12 education, the passage of Constitutional Amendment 1 means that New Mexicans have finally proclaimed our commitment to equitable access to high-quality education from the youngest of ages, and this is sending ripples across the nation as other states seek to follow the road map we have laid out.
As an experienced educator who spent 25 years teaching 7th and 8th grade students, I have seen the repercussions of an inadequately funded early childhood education system. I can recall many students who, even in middle school, continued to struggle with the lack of a strong foundation cultivated in early childhood programs. I remember one student, particularly, who became so agitated that he could not sit in class but rather paced outside in front of the school due to his frustration. In that moment, I felt like he and I had both been let down by our education system, him alone outside and myself wanting to help but tied to the other students in my classroom – someone needed to intercede much sooner in this child’s life than I had been able to. Thankfully, I have confidence that with the passing of Constitutional Amendment 1, we are closer than ever to a time when we can address barriers to lifelong learning before they have a chance to crystalize.
As President of an organization that is dedicated to representing educators across New Mexico, I am overjoyed to live in a state that puts our children first – where we focus on the issues that really matter, not made-up controversies like gender inclusive policies or CRT. On Tuesday, we put our money – money from oil and gas revenues that would have otherwise sat idly in state coffers – where it can do some real good: with our children.
Two thirds of the voters in New Mexico know that our children depended upon us to finally take action to ensure their emotional, mental, and physical well-being from a young age, which the research shows will lead to better educational outcomes in the long-term. NEA-NM will continue to advocate for prioritizing our children’s basic needs, and the basic needs of the adults that spend the most time with them, in order to break the cycle of underperformance and loss of dignity that is the guaranteed outcome if we fail to act on what really matters.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I am honored to represent you.
