Letters to the Editor: On reading instruction in public schools
These letters appeared in the March 5, 2023 edition of the Las Cruces Sun-News.
Reading instruction in public schools
Public school education in our state very frequently receives negative criticisms, and the editorial written by Paul Gessing of the NM Rio Grande Foundation is an example. With many years of experience as a licensed, certified instructional staff member in our New Mexican schools, serving public, charter, private, homeschool, preschools and early infant intervention, I feel that I can offer some insights to our low scores and rankings.
Even prior to the pandemic, student absences and tardiness impacted learning. I have witnessed this in my career in schools from Pecos to Las Cruces. Students who are not available for learning will struggle. The solution sounds easy…..expect parents, guardians and caregivers to get their kids to school. But issues such as poverty, inconsistent transportation, insecurity with housing, absence and/or disengagement by parents, guardians and caregivers make this issue complex. School choice is often touted as a solution by folks like Mr. Gessing, but unless these underlying issues are addressed, students may still be unavailable for learning.
Read Paul Gessing's column: 2023 Legislature punts on education reform
I agree with Mr. Gessing that reading instruction should be phonics-based, and I have witnessed this in practice across the New Mexican schools I have served and visited. Teachers present and teach the curriculum that is chosen, yet Mr. Gessing implies that it is a teacher’s choice to teach phonics-based reading or whole word, or another reading strategy. Mr. Gessing, phonics programs are being implemented now. Students must be available for learning.
I agree somewhat with Mr. Gessing when considering promotion to the next grade of students who have not achieved grade level skills. However, as many engaged parents might relate, it is not always the right solution to hold a student back. Like an onion, there are many layers to the issue. How many times shall we retain a student? Shall we retain the student who is chronically absent? Students must be available for learning.
Implementing “education savings accounts” that would follow a student to public, charter, private or other schooling options here in New Mexico is often promoted as a solution to our low rankings. Engaged parents, guardians and caregivers already take advantage of these options. But will that help the kid who has food and shelter insecurity, who has inconsistent parenting/guardianship, who so frequently operates in survival mode? Students must be physically, mentally, emotionally available for learning.
One strategy might be for our public schools and city leaders to facilitate more volunteerism from our community. Seeing first-hand the empty classroom chairs, the fatigued child who has no bed or home, the stressed student whose parents or guardians provide little security for a variety of reasons, might help further this conversation in a more productive way. Or, in simpler terms, get into the classroom and see for yourself, rather than pontificating from your armchair. And, yes, I volunteer with LCPS weekly.
Jean Haseman
Las Cruces, N.M.
On N.M. Voting Rights Act
As an outspoken member of the LGBTQ community, I’m a proud steward in the fight for equality. Over these past two years, I’ve seen our freedom to live authentically as we are, love who we want, and our freedom to vote bear the brunt of restrictive, political attacks. These essential freedoms are equally important and critical in our pursuit of lasting liberation; without the freedom to choose our leaders, we will surely forfeit the freedom to live our lives authentically, without fear of persecution.With New Mexico's current automatic voter registration (AVR) system, trans and nonbinary folks are forced to shoulder the burden of explaining gender and name changes to government officials during agency interactions. By upgrading New Mexico's AVR system to the streamlined secure AVR system, we can help limit potentially traumatizing conversations LGBTQ folks have with government officials by automatically updating information changes across participating government agencies the first time necessary documents are presented, all while registering eligible voters.The 2023 New Mexico Voting Rights Act (NMVRA) ensures that every eligible voter, regardless of background, geography, or demographics, can exercise their freedom to vote in an efficient, secure, and dignified process. To better protect my rights as a member of the LGBTQ community and to ensure equitable access to the ballot for eligible voters in our state, I urge the New Mexico Legislature to pass the NMVRA.
Monica Sias
Las Cruces, N.M.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Letters to the Editor: On reading instruction in public schools
