I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
House members debated The Hispanic Education Act for well over two hours before voting 44 to 25 to pass the bill to the Senate, where members had another lengthy debate before passing it 24 to 16. Much of the debate was captured in The Independent’s live blog throughout the afternoon. The two bills have small differences so must now be reconciled, but they’re heading to the Governor’s desk for sure.
The legislation creates an internal office in the Public Education Department that would specifically focus on closing the achievement gap between Hispanic and Anglo students, through annual report cards on Hispanic education and the creation of an external advisory committee to provide input.
Supporters of the HEA passionately defended it against detractors, who questioned why the achievement gap existed in the first place and questioned the singling out of the Hispanic student body for special attention, when they represent the majority of the student body so should naturally be represented by the Public Education Department.
On the Senate side, Sen. Tim Jennings, D-Roswell, immediately offered a floor substitute that would have changed the bill entirely, to focus on economically disadvantaged rather than Hispanic students. The sponsor of the HEA, Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, D-Albuquerque, was surprised by the move, and questioned by Jennings didn’t consult her first. The amendment failed and the HEA ultimately passed, after a lengthy debate that saw Senators spelling out the definition of Hispanic, defending the focus on Hispanic students, and engaging in a lengthy debate about racism, mirroring in many ways the debate on the House floor.
