Public Policy Position on Public Education
Background
Free, universal education at elementary and secondary levels has been an ideal in American society virtually from the beginning of the nation. The approximation of that ideal in practice has been a dynamic factor in the cultural, political and economic development of the United States, and continues to be so. A related ideal, strongly held by most Americans, is that public schools should be locally controlled.
Far less consensus is discernible with regard to the goals, structure and curriculum of the educational system. One major focus of debate has to do with the primary goal of education: shall it be the enculturation and socialization of children including skills in living with others, independent thinking, problem solving, and creative approaches to life problems or shall the primary goal be acquisition of skills and learnings which will be economically rewarding in the job market?
In New Mexico, more than half the state budget goes to pay the cost of education (Public Schools and Higher Education). In this state, the funding of public education is highly concentrated at the state level. In only a couple of states is the percentage of school funding provided centrally by the state higher than in New Mexico. This arrangement has the advantage of providing a basis for equalization of school support among the 88 school districts; but at the same time it creates perpetual tension between the State Department of Education and the local school boards around issues of control.
Understandably, education issues loom large in the annual deliberations of the State Legislature.
Concerns Of The Religious Communities
Several of the denominations constituting the New Mexico Conference of Churches have issued public statements concerning public education. A study of these statements reveals substantial agreement around the following concerns and goals:
- Quality education is the right of every child.
- This right implies that no child shall be deprived of such education on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or physical, mental or emotional handicapping conditions.
- The education of children and youth is a shared responsibility of school, community, state, home and religious community.
- The search must continue for greater public consensus on the goals and content of public education. Every effort should be made to incorporate the widest spectrum of public opinion in this search.
- Quality education requires adequate and equitable tax support.
- Teachers should be provided opportunity for updating and upgrading their skills.
- The problems of classroom discipline can be resolved when the education "team" mentioned in (3) above helps create an atmosphere of mutual respect between students and teachers.
Current Pressing Needs And Issues
The following have been identified as among the major needs and issues in relation to the educational system of New Mexico:
- Need to improve the quality of teaching.
- Need to improve student skills in social and communication areas and independent and creative and critical thinking.
- Analysis of all areas of school curriculum to insure their relevancy with respect to present human needs and problems.
- Improvement of student discipline.
- Elimination of racial and sex discrimination.
- Improved methods of teacher and student evaluation.
- Local school board autonomy vs. State Board regulation.
- Increased compensation for teachers to levels reflecting their true contribution to society.
Policy Position
The New Mexico Conference of Churches supports the goal of improvement in the quality of education in New Mexico. In attempting to provide quality education for all persons within its jurisdiction, the state through its public school system should demand professional competence and faithful performance from all instructional and administrative personnel and should, in return, compensate personnel at rates reflective of their professional status.
Guided by the goals stated in the foregoing sections of this statement, we will support legislation designed to address the current pressing needs and issues identified above. We will support tax increases, to the extent that need for additional revenues is demonstrated, to achieve the goal of high quality education.
We believe that community support and involvement are essential for a successful educational system and that this factor must be carefully considered in any proposals for consolidating control of the educational system either in the executive branch of the state government or in an autonomous agency.
