Education Polling Results Released in New Mexico

A survey conducted by a national polling firm reveals that New Mexico's voters want to invest more money in public education.

(PRWEB) October 27, 2005 -- The National Education Association of New Mexico (NEA-NM) has released the results of a statewide voter survey conducted in August by a national advocacy group called Communities for Quality Education. It reveals the mood of New Mexicans toward their schools.

“The State of New Mexico will have a surplus of as much as eight hundred million dollars to one billion dollars next year. When voters were asked how this additional revenue should be spent, their resounding answer was education,” NEA-NM President Eduardo Holguin told members at the NEA-NM Fall Delegate Council on Saturday, October 22, 2005 at its meeting in Albuquerque.

“While forty percent of the voters said the money should be used to improve public schools, only fifteen percent were of the opinion it should be refunded back to taxpayers. This clearly indicates that New Mexicans would rather invest in our schools, our students and our future, than get a check in the mail – -even in these trying times of rising gas and energy prices.”

When asked what issues Gov. Bill Richardson should pay the most attention to, education won out over economy and jobs, crime and drugs, healthcare and taxes.

The poll reveals that education is the top concern for Anglo and Hispanic voters, for Democrats, Republicans and Independents and in every geographical region of the state except the east.

“It’s not all good news but I can tell you this –-New Mexico voters overwhelmingly agree with us and with our Education Partners at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the PTA, the School Boards Association and the School Administrators’ Association about what needs to be done to improve our schools and ensure that every student receives the quality education they deserve,” Holguin said. "Education is far and away the top concern for New Mexico voters.”

New Mexico voters clearly want to attract and keep the best teachers and educational staff by paying them higher salaries and retirement, providing teacher training, and ongoing education. They want modernized schools with up-to-date materials and technology and small class sizes. They want to foster healthy lifestyles and fitness skills for students and they want accountability for how tax dollars are being spent.

Holguin told his members at NEA-NM’s Fall Delegate Council that the answer is to “...build a partnership between parents, students and schools to work together to ensure that New Mexico makes the necessary investment in education and invests wisely. Gov. Richardson clearly recognizes this. And our friends at the AFT, the PTA, the School Boards Association and the School Administrators’ Association clearly recognize this. We are working together to make it a reality.”

Holguin asked his members to take action by writing to their legislators and following up with face-to-face meetings to ensure that New Mexico’s opportunity gap is closed so every student gets the quality education they deserve.

The poll report is based on a survey conducted August 8-11, among 872 voters in New Mexico. A base sample of 600 interviews was supplemented with an over sample of 100 Hispanic likely voters (314 total Hispanic interviews) and 150 self-identified Democrats (469 total Democratic interviews). The margin of error is +/- 4.1 percent. issue.

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