I am sick and tired of reporting New Mexico at the bottom in education and many other vital things. We have been here since 1995, same story year after year. The GOP and Dems have had many opportunities to change this state, both parties have failed. The GOP is stuck in the mud and cannot overcome the Dems. If the GOP does not change leadership at the top, the party will continue to fail. New leadership, new faces are needed in in the New Mexico GOP so very badly, they are not connecting with Independents and those that are leaning leaving the Democratic party, the GOP loves preaching to the choir! The New Mexico GOP has to face the fact that they are the minority party! They need to present the people a detailed plan on how they will turn this state around and not just speak ‘nothing noise’ and hate. The people are tired of the hate and ‘nothing noise’ the last 5 years or so it has done great damage to our country and continues to do so, like the insurrection of our Nations Capitol! The greatest attack on our Capitol since the War of 1812! This should be alarming to all people! The GOP and Dems now have turned the investigation of the insurrection into a circus. Such a horrible example!!! I am stunned how many people just dismiss this attack!!! What does that say of what we have become as a nation?  Will we ever know the truth to who was behind this? I WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH! I ALSO WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT COVID! From a China Lab? or what? WE THE PEOPLE, DESERVE TO KNOW! Both parties do not represent the common man and woman of America, that is why I am an Independent. I will not be associated with such dysfunction, just like I would not be associated with a dysfunctional Church. I preached on this yesterday at FBC in Reserve, NM. I want God back in America, I want my America back. Vet your candidates with God’s Word and ask who their Pastor is. Many do not go to Church. Way too many ‘bad mouthed’ politicians in America on both sides of the table! Is this what you want your children and grandchildren to grow up with?????

It is time to get the Federal and State Governments out of local education and let each school district determine their own path.

From WalletHub:

With more than half of educators reporting significant learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s States with the Best & Worst School Systems, and expert commentary.

In order to determine the best school systems in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key measures of quality and safety. The data set ranges from pupil-teacher ratio and dropout rate to median standardized-test scores.

Best vs. Worst

• Alabama has the lowest dropout rate, 8.30 percent, which is 3.7 times lower than in the District of Columbia, the highest at 31.10 percent.
• Vermont has the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, 10.83, which is 2.2 times lower than in Arizona, the highest at 23.56.
• Massachusetts has the lowest share of high school students who reported being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property, 4.50 percent, which is 2.8 times lower than in Louisiana, the highest at 12.40 percent.
• The District of Columbia has the lowest share of high school students who were bullied online, 8.90 percent, which is 2.3 times lower than in New Hampshire, the highest at 20.10 percent.

To view the full report and your state or the District’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-best-schools/5335

More from WalletHub

• Most & Least Educated States
• Best College Towns & Cities in America
• Best Back-to-School Credit Cards for Parents
• Best Credit Cards for Students
• Cities with the Most & Least Student Debt

Expert Commentary

Does variation in per pupil spending explain most of the variation in school quality?

“Absolutely. From both a quantitative and qualitative lens, more money leads to greater opportunities and greater achievement. If you compare the outcomes of two affluent communities, you may not see much difference. But the amount of resources (i.e., books, training, experiences, materials, etc.) is considerably more in affluent districts. One of the greatest predictors of learning is the training of the teacher. Affluent areas pay well, with good benefits, and have smaller class sizes on average. That means teachers can assess more accurately and teach to the individual needs of their students.”
Christopher Meidl, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Duquesne University

“Many variables contribute to school quality like school climate, school environment, parental and community wealth and engagement in the school, and per-pupil expenditure. Per pupil expenditure is a reflection of the quantity and quality of resources available for school districts and schools to utilize.” Comfort O. Okpala, Ed.D – Professor, North Carolina A & T State University

What are the biggest educational challenges that have emerged during the pandemic, and which were the best strategies proposed in order to overcome them?

“Accountability of learning has been very difficult. We will see many students that will do well enough, even excel with the variation in learning over the past year. But there are many students (especially those who are marginalized or schools in marginalized areas) that need the physical, in-person experience of school to get their needs met. Schools provide stability for millions of children across the country. Teachers, lunch personnel, custodial people, and school staff provide consistency, role models, socio-emotional caring, and empathy for so many children. This next year must have a transition plan to get students used to the in-person experience again. Time for teachers and school personnel to do this transition will be very important.”
Christopher Meidl, Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Duquesne University

“The recent pandemic required many schools to move quickly to remote or hybrid learning in 2020. This challenged public schools to design new approaches and to shift their existing educational practices online. Teachers quickly redeveloped their curriculum by creating digital content that would primarily be delivered in a digital format. The need to train teachers in this new modality and provide supports for teachers during this time as well as finding ways to provide access to both teachers and students more equitably meant that equity in opportunity emerged as another significant challenge.”
Teresa Coffman, Ph.D. – Professor, University of Mary Washington

In evaluating the best and worst school systems, what are the top 5 indicators?

“As a school and district leader, I found that a natural way of looking at your education system is through the C’s of community, creativity, caring, connectivity, and competency. With such C’s find out how the school is the heart of the community. Ask questions such as, do they innovate and create programs that meet the aspirational needs of their learners? Do they create a culture of caring and a system of social-emotional supports for both student and adult learners? Do they have a system that develops and encourages continuous improvement with an all means all mindset?”
Frances Marie Gipson, Ph.D. – Clinical Associate Professor, Claremont Graduate University

“The following five key indicators tend to be used most often when considering a school system’s performance: student academic achievement; instructional quality; school climate; graduation and attendance rates; and satisfaction of teachers, administrators, staff, caregivers, and students.”
Teresa Coffman, Ph.D. – Professor, University of Mary Washington

WHY DO THESE HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN??? We must elect lawmakers who care about all people! We needs stewards! 1 Corinthians 4:2, Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. Jesus has to be at the center of everything we do. The Governor must be held accountable!

The failing of New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s leadership, this time at a government-run veterans facility suffering from “inadequate state oversight” where 28 residents died (19%) of COVID-19. The Governor has run into trouble before on these issues when she was part of former Governor Bill Richardson’s administration. Controversial past still follows New Mexico governor candidate Lujan Grisham

Report slams residential health facilities run by New Mexico Department of Health

More From today:

New Mexico’s Pot Industry Will Suck Up a Lot of Our Precious Water!

This is another reason that illegalizing pot is a very bad idea for New Mexico! WATER IS LIKE GOLD! It is very dangerous to assume the state has enough water for the pot industry. A cannabis plant needs one gallon of water per day per useable pound of cannabis created. So a plant that yields 6 pounds would in fact need six gallons per day, while a plant that yields 2 pounds would only need two gallons per day. Using our precious water for pot heads makes no sense. I do not see this as good planning for the future. So very, very bad in many ways. The Governor and her fans are have made a huge mistake here in so many ways. I have been warning about the evils of pot for many, many years and many are so very blinded to the harm it is going to do to this state and our young people.

Does New Mexico have enough water for cannabis?

Officials: New Mexico must prepare for less water in next half-century

Experts tell New Mexico lawmakers swift action needed to address dwindling water supply

Satan has blinded many……New Mexico is sinning against God’s children in so many ways…..abortion, child hunger, we are always at the bottom in child well-being. I am so very concerned about the future of our children.

Marijuana poisoning on the rise in New Mexico

Our Dear Friend Chuck Akeley’s post from July of 2019 really hits a homerun for God!

“Legalization” Of Marijuana In New Mexico – Is This Really A Good Idea?

In our country and yes, our state, it has become almost fashionable to support the growth and use of marijuana, whether for medicinal use or recreational use.  So much so, that even our state executive and many legislators consider government sanctioned and controlled distribution of marijuana to be a worthy effort as means to acquire tax dollars.  Let’s consider some of the well-established issues facing New Mexico.  For many years, we’ve been rated at the bottom or almost the bottom for quality of education, children living in poverty, drug use (e.g., opioid use), drug trafficking (I-40, I-10, I-25 and the southern border corridors) and DWI offenders (including the associated deaths).  Is there really wisdom in enhancing these issues by creating a culture of “legalized” use of marijuana here in New Mexico?

A wise man once told me that if you have any doubt as to whether to do or say something, then ask yourself, would you look to Jesus and say “Lord, I do this thing as unto You” or “Lord, I give You thanks for this which I am about to do.”  If the answer is no, then why are you doing it?  Would you ask Jesus to bless your firing up of a joint or bowl or eating of a laced edible so that you would experience a high?  The scripture says we should seek His wisdom.  According to Proverbs 4:7, “[w]isdom is the principal thing; [t]herefore get wisdom [NKJV].”  Ephesians 5:15-21 instructs us to walk in wisdom:  “[s]ee then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ [NKJV].”  Just because we CAN do something doesn’t necessarily mean we SHOULD do something.

My background includes a few years as a Special Agent with the USAF Office of Special Investigations, during which much of the training involved drug enforcement.  I spent the first year after completing the initial academy leading the Travis AFB, CA Joint Drug Enforcement Team and subsequently worked for several years at Holloman AFB, NM participating in drug enforcement operations with the other agents.  Once you have strapped on the equipment and executed a few warrants, you tend to develop a very different perspective about “low level drug use,” as the small amounts of drugs came from someone who was probably not your next door neighbor, and that person’s drugs came from a trafficker – a very dangerous person.  The perspective that I’m not hurting anyone is a big lie.  It is not surprising to me that the military and local or state police have had to lower standards in order to acquire acceptable cadets.  Today, our children and youth often do things as a result of cultural or peer influences which can devastate future employment opportunities.  How much worse it is when our children’s parents are the ones modeling this behavior?  I thank God that our Lord is forgiving and merciful, and am reminded that we are called to forgive others and to help guide our friends, family and others unto salvation and into their God-given destiny!

It’s interesting to hear discussions about “legalizing” recreational use of marijuana at the state level.  If a state allows something that is forbidden at the federal level, it is not really legal, but what is happening is that the federal government has elected, as a matter of enforcement discretion, to refrain from seeking prosecution under certain circumstances and the state has elected to ignore existing federal code or statutes.  The federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), 21 USC 812, establishes five schedules of controlled substances, identified as Schedules I, II, III, IV and V.  Schedule I lists substances that have been determined to have:  1) a high potential for abuse; 2) no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States; and 3) a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or substance under medical supervision.  The psychoactive substance in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), remains to this day a listed Schedule I substance.  Because of this, many states have struggled with the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana and declare legality, when in point of fact, what is occurring is simply enforcement discretion at the federal level and a glaring lack of willingness of the federal government to take a solid position one way or the other.

There is MUCH remaining to be said about this issue, including the increasing levels of THC in modern-grown marijuana plants provided by dispensaries and technologically-advanced illicit grows, the lack of clear means for law enforcement to easily determine the degree of driving impairment compared to determining alcohol impairment, the effect that such has or may have on us developmentally, mentally and physically, the wisdom and procedure for assuring sound regulatory controls at the federal and state level – and assuming this issue isn’t going away quickly, the spiritual implications of encouraging, yet another mind altering substance for use by our residents, demonstrating yet again, the wisdom of man in the face of the wisdom of God.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that You would speak to the hearts of those in a position to encourage, allow, regulate and/or spend tax dollars on marijuana matters in our beautiful State of New Mexico (and across this nation).  Give us ears to hear and eyes to see what is the will of God.  May wisdom guide our discussions and determinations, with a mighty hedge of protection over all who are doing Your will and serving Your people, in light of this challenge.  But regardless, help us to always love.  Always.  Amen.

Chuck Akeley

Albuquerque, New Mexico