Senator John Arthur Smith (Deming) – A decision last year by a longtime state senator from Deming to unilaterally kill a bill that would have tapped the state’s land-grant endowment continues to raise controversy – at home as well as across the state.
Senator John Arthur Smith last year refused to let the Senate Finance Committee, which he chairs, vote on using part of the endowment to pay for more early childhood education programs.
And while Smith is far from alone in his opposition to tapping into the endowment, the divide can be seen as near as the Deming School Board.
An article in the Santa Fe New Mexican quotes board president Bayne Anderson supporting Smith in his decision not to rob the fund.
Anderson said it is too dangerous to hit endowments and that other sources of money should be found.
But board member Dr. Andy Hernandez said nothing would make a bigger difference to New Mexico than getting every kid off to a successful start through early childhood programs.
Hernandez compared the divide on access to early childhood education – a class divide, he called it – to previous generations’ divide by racial prejudice.
Hernandez said class has already fractured this generation.
Senator John Arthur Smith last year refused to let the Senate Finance Committee, which he chairs, vote on using part of the endowment to pay for more early childhood education programs.
And while Smith is far from alone in his opposition to tapping into the endowment, the divide can be seen as near as the Deming School Board.
An article in the Santa Fe New Mexican quotes board president Bayne Anderson supporting Smith in his decision not to rob the fund.
Anderson said it is too dangerous to hit endowments and that other sources of money should be found.
But board member Dr. Andy Hernandez said nothing would make a bigger difference to New Mexico than getting every kid off to a successful start through early childhood programs.
Hernandez compared the divide on access to early childhood education – a class divide, he called it – to previous generations’ divide by racial prejudice.
Hernandez said class has already fractured this generation.
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