OPINION: OPINION: Talk of the Town
Apr. 6—Education opinion lacked needed details
Clyde Aragon in Sunday's Opinion page opined at length on education. He says we got along much better without either the Departments of Education or the Environmental Protection Agency. How we were better, he neglects to say.
He then denigrates overbearing unions, bloated school bureaucracies, inedible school lunches and unreadable "Marxist" propaganda.
He contends that money spent on education is all wasted. That if the bureaucracy gets more they'll just waste it.
Finally, he deploys his suggested solution. Competition. THE answer to all our problems. With whom and by whom? He doesn't say.
Who does he think holds the schools accountable? Well he assigns that task to the parents. You know, those folks who go to work every day bringing home the bacon? Sure, they've got gobs of time to educate themselves on the ways to measure, assess and judge the quality of their kids' education, and then get organized with the other parents to "hold the schools accountable!"
Who does he suggest should do the teaching? Certainly not those "overbearing teachers' unions." Oh no. Instead, we should hire retired engineers and doctors to teach math and science, and retired military veterans to teach history.
Buried in Aragon's analysis is the tattered, shopworn notion of "common sense." That four years of college in not required to know and be able to teach that two plus two equals four, and water freezes at 32 degree Fahrenheit.
At last, Aragon's proposal to education reform appears to be:
(1) Remove the money wasted on education.
(2) Replace the teachers with retired engineers and doctors.
(3) Put the parents in charge of administration.
(4) Make unreadable Marxist propaganda readable.
(5) Have unspecified individuals compete with each other.
Have I got all this straight?
Tim Taylor
Albuquerque
Teachers need specific training
Clyde Aragon's column (3/30/25) that suggested retired engineers, doctors or veterans can just as easily teach as professional teachers is fundamentally wrong. While those people might make wonderful guest speakers, they are not trained to deal with the daily challenges teachers face. Will those people know how to differentiate lessons and support social-emotional learning and inclusivity? Will they instinctively know how to manage disruptive behaviors such as disrespect, apathy and cell phone use? Obtaining a degree in education is much more than "learning how to say two plus two equals four." Among other things, it involves understanding child development, pedagogy, classroom management, subject expertise and promoting a love for learning.
Racquel Leland
Albuquerque
Legislature missed opportunities
Our New Mexico Legislature has recently completed a full session. Let's check the scorecard: Nothing was done to curb the ever-growing juvenile crime problem. Nothing was done to re-structure our medical malpractice laws, and many more shortfalls. Oh yes, the lawmakers did make it easier for pregnant women in northern New Mexico to obtain their desired "solution".
Our state sits at the top of most negative lists (e.g., DWI) and at the bottom of most positive lists (e.g., education). It seems to me that the Legislature is a shining example of "Democrat-cy" working for (against?) its people.
Reid Griffith
Albuquerque
New policies are bad for America
What we have in our U.S. government is a kakistocracy, a government by the worst people. Supporters just don't get it. Our new government cares little for the health of our people by selecting an antivaxer as secretary of Health and Human Services, eliminating the Department of Education, and laying off hundreds of thousands of workers. Now they want to coerce people into buying only U.S.-made products.
Our economy is based on a global economy. By disrupting that with tariffs and taxes on imported goods, they are forcing a lot of companies who depend on imports either out of business or to do business at a reduced scope. Meanwhile, many immigrants are critical to our economy, and they are sending them back to where they came from. Our ancestors, except for the Native Americans, are all immigrants, and our government is even making life hard for Native Americans. They are trying to change our voting to ensure that many low-income and remote voters will have difficulty voting by forcing them to vote on Election Day, which of course favors the Republicans. It is sick, very sick. Their whole approach, import taxes, etc. should be unconstitutional and I pray the Republican-dominated Supreme Court recognizes this.
Harvey Eastman
Albuquerque
NM was named most stressed state
New Mexico tops Wallethub's "Most & Least Stressed States (2025)" survey as the most stressed state, with family stress — driven by high divorce rates, single parenthood, childcare costs and lack of emotional support — being the primary culprit. As the Family Month Project founder, I find this striking in a state where family ties, rooted in Native American, Hispanic and Anglo heritage, are a source of pride. Yet, these deep bonds may also create pressure, as multi-generational households and economic struggles amplify obligations. Poverty, violent crime (topping U.S. rankings), and poor health care (47th per Wallethub) further strain families. Economic relief, like cutting the gross receipts tax or expanding oil and gas, could bolster small businesses and ease financial woes. Prioritizing crime reduction and health care improvements is also key. Through the Family Month Project, I believe celebrating these bonds can the direction of the state, making family New Mexico's superpower.
Anne Doherty
Santa Fe
A poem for Betsy Arakawa
Was there a cry for help?
Did Gene address it during the
2 calls
Before his demise?
Investors sought
Lawyers suppress
Yet 2 death
Separated apart
Considered as one tragic event
Richard Wittie
Rio Rancho
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