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.167407.1
HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 63
48
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
Ray Begaye
A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THAT NEW MEXICO BE A LEADER IN PREPARING YOUNG
RESEARCHERS TO ANSWER THE GLOBAL CHALLENGES IN SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS.
WHEREAS, New Mexico faces a serious and intensifying
challenge to its future competitiveness and standard of living
as fewer of its students select careers in science, engineering
and mathematics; and
WHEREAS, the standard of living of New Mexicans depends,
to a large degree, on the quality of jobs that they are able to
hold; and
WHEREAS, New Mexicans find themselves in competition for
jobs, not just with their immediate neighbors, but with
individuals around the world; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico is competing with countries that
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.167407.1
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expend proportionately more money per student to build their
science and engineering communities; and
WHEREAS, research projects allow students to apply their
knowledge and skills directly, a technique that has been shown
to improve their understanding of mathematical, scientific and
engineering concepts; and
WHEREAS, students are New Mexico's finest resource;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state be a leader in preparing
young researchers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to
declare a "New Mexico Young Researchers Awareness Day"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education
department be requested to require that all students in
secondary schools conduct a scientific research project for
presentation or review prior to graduation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that expositions of student science
projects no longer be identified as "science fairs" but as
"student science and engineering research challenges"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that every post-secondary
educational institution establish a review process for
secondary-school student research projects and that the results
be considered when admitting students to those institutions;
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all new teachers of science
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.167407.1
and mathematics be involved in evaluating student research
projects that are displayed in public; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education
department and the higher education department collaborate to
provide kindergarten through twelfth grade teachers with the
opportunity to conduct their own research for their own
professional growth; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education
department and the higher education department work with the
international science and engineering fair; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a public education and
marketing program be established to help educate residents
about how work force education issues will affect New Mexicans
and their standard of living for generations to come; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the public education department, the higher
education department and the governor.
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