Use tools to fix NM education now

THE VIRUS has been a terrible plague on the world, the country and New Mexico. The loss of life is horrible and a tragedy to millions. There will be an end, and we should try to look forward and start to plan for a new future. New Mexico can come out better if our leaders look forward and not (for) excuses.

Losing the Space Command is also a wake-up call. We all know New Mexico is at the bottom of most every list regarding education and crime, and these are the factors holding us down. We have taxed the citizens over and over again, saying just give us more money and we will get these things fixed, but reality is nothing gets better and no one is held accountable

The pandemic has given us an opportunity to start to see real change. There are now more laptops and computers in the hands of more K-12 students than ever before. This school year is gone and the leaders need to plan for the school year that starts this fall. Use the technology and tools we have provided and come up with real and unique plans to educate our children in ways that were not possible before. Take advantage of this new opportunity, the tools have been given, make the most of (them).

If the leaders just continue to do the same things and start the next school year the same way they are ending this one, they will fail us and the children — again. Make this a turning point for the state. Come up with unique and innovative ways to use all this new technology to leap ahead and do great things with the new tools and do it without raising taxes. Win, win, win! Call it the new New Mexico and show the rest of the country what we can do with the tools we have been given. Maybe the next Space Command will take a second look and our leaders won’t have to make excuses (for) why we didn’t get the award. VICTOR LECHNER Albuquerque