New Mexico’s K-12 system: a “free” product unwanted by many

Much discussion in New Mexico regarding its education woes is centered around the problem of “absenteeism.” In other words, kids don’t show up to school. Indeed, it is hard to get an education if you don’t attend any form of schooling. Of course, the question is who to blame and what to do about it.

It is worth noting that Gov. Lujan Grisham’s “lockdown-oriented” response to the COVID 19 pandemic is at least partially to blame. They call it “norm erosion” when something you have done for a long time suddenly isn’t done anymore. It can be tough to restart that activity.

Of course, New Mexico’s government school system itself leaves a lot to be desired as well. It’s failures are manifest and at least part of the blame has to be laid at the feet of curriculum and teaching styles that leave students uninterested in continuing to stay in school regardless of the future benefits such schooling will deliver.

You can see one chart which tells New Mexico’s dire story since the COVID 19 pandemic here and below. To summarize, New Mexico’s absenteeism problem is now 2nd-worst in the nation and the problem has worsened more in New Mexico than anywhere else.

If New Mexico’s political leadership wants to attract kids back to the classroom, perhaps they should bring school choice and innovation to schools. Spending more money isn’t working. Of course, making schools responsive to student needs is likely too complicated for the government to manage. That’s why choice should be offered to parents and families.