46 percent of adult New Mexicans are "functionally illiterate" (Santa Fe: relocating, tornadoes)

[6/3]

Originally Posted by _yb

I thought Clinton was a Rhodes Scholar. Never knew he was an illiterate. You learn something new everyday.

That was a good one yb and towanda . I'm hearing that state Land Commissioner Republican Pat Lyons will run against Democrat Diane Denish for gov???

[EnjoyEP]

MOD MESSAGE: Alllllright folks - Most of these good natured political jabs have been harmless enough, but the "carnage" I witness out of such political debates - especially lately - makes me wary of them.

Regardless of your side of the political aisle, can we put that banter back aside now and get back on to topic? If for no other reason, than to spare ol' EnjoyEP from having a heart attack???

[Towanda]

I'm sorry for my reaction, EnjoyEP.

I know you don't "enjoy" posts like that.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Towanda

I'm sorry for my reaction, EnjoyEP.

I know you don't "enjoy" posts like that.

No sweat Towanda...I don't think anyone on either side of that sub-debate meant any real harm.

Lately though, I have noticed these things spiraling out of control, so I am just trying to get everyone to be back to friends in the NM forum and not end up dueling!!

[rruff]

Originally Posted by GregW

That made calculus a real difficult proposition because I kept getting hung up on the algebra. Identitys anyone?

Anyway I believe that humans can learn darn near anything if they have the incentive to do it. Finding the incentive is the key.

I can relate to the algebra. I did algebra "intuitively" ie... just looked at it and wrote down the answer... which was good enough to pass HS... which is all I wanted to do. In college my first calculus teacher noticed on our first quiz that I couldn't do algebra, so he called me in a taught it to me in about a half hour. I ended up getting an A in that class, and eventually graduated from the University of Illinois with high honors in engineering... yet if that teacher hadn't helped me at the critical time I might have gotten frustrated and quit.

IMO the motivation needs to come from within and a big factor is identifying a potential career that truly looks appealing. The support of parents and peers and teachers needs to be there also.

Oddly enough, though I was motivated in my younger years, I have none at all now... no desire for a career or a full time job, or the money and whatever else goes along with it. So I'm not one to be telling kids what to do for a living...

[trappedinNM]

Originally Posted by Vinegaroon

"Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?"

Perhaps it is rarely asked because it is incorrect grammer.

Perhaps they ask "is our child learning?" or "are our children learning?"

[newmex]

As tech jobs arrive in New Mexico, there should be vocational education in place to make ready when these companies arrive. Or you will lose them, lest be passed over.

Water is a key element to running large industry. It's amazing which industries are setting up shop in NM that require WATER. Cattle, dairy, ethanol, fish farms, irrigation farming, refineries of all kinds to name a few.

Here's what's rumbling back in Ohio where I'm at, and it's something to consider.

The only major thing holding Ohio back from stop loss of tech industry jobs is their taxation. Plenty of water to be had in Ohio and they (state legislators) are working on securing water rights so they will not have the Feds usurping water rights to the western states for industry. Guv Richardson asked for water from back east and received the one finger wave from the mid-west. Thats just one battle cry in Ohio to keep jobs from fleeing the state...and boy, are they ever angry back here. Suggestions are around to abolish the Ohio state tax to keep corporations from passing Ohio over.

Building up literacy and skills is one thing, but if you don't have the environment to support industry, you're screwed. Your educated will move on to "greener pastures". How long can New Mexico sustain industry till they cry for a drink?

[mortimer]

trappedinNM corrected:

> Originally Posted by Vinegaroon
> > "Rarely is the question asked: is our children learning?"

> Perhaps it is rarely asked because it is incorrect grammer.

I'd bet $100 that the original post had the grammar mistakes put there a' purpose.

[Lovehound]

Originally Posted by mortimer

I'd bet $100 that the original post had the grammar mistakes put there a' purpose.

Alas, the moderators deleted the OP. In this one case I think the moderators were too aggressive. Sad, but we can't intelligently debate that topic now, can we?

[tecpatl]

Originally Posted by sjbasin

So what's the big deal? We live in a country where one can be illiterate and STILL be elected President. Twice.

Wait, sj....you're confusing illiterate with numbskull. The numbskull knows how to read well enough to sleep thru classes and still get that degree from Yale.