Candidates field questions at Navajo Prep
By Jan-Mikael Patterson
Navajo Times
FARMINGTON, Oct. 18, 2010
The forum was moderated by Robert Joe, who heads Diné operations for Raytheon Missile Systems; Tom Arviso Jr., CEO/publisher of the Navajo Times; and Window Rock attorney Heather Anderson.
Presidential candidates Lynda Lovejoy and Ben Shelly attended, as did Earl Tulley, Lovejoy's running mate. Shelly's running mate, Rex Lee Jim, sent word that he could not attend due to a previous commitment in Washington, D.C.
About 200 people filled the Eagle's Nest gym Oct. 1 to hear the candidates field questions formulated by the students on the topics of economics, the environment, energy and education.
Tulley was on first, and his responses were well articulated and often drawn from his personal experiences.
When asked how he would take care of the ongoing need for scholarships, Tulley alluded to the need for parents to take on more of that responsibility. He said that as his children were growing up, a savings plan was devised for each child.
He said that if his slate is elected, college-bound students would be encouraged to begin their journey locally, which would cost less than going out of state.
"A lot of the general requirements can be done at Diné College, UNM-Gallup, Navajo Technical College," he said. "That can be taken care of while using the dinner table at home to do their homework."
Tulley also advocated having scholarship recipients sign a contract in order to increase the number who stick with college through graduation, and perhaps add a requirement that they return to work for the Navajo Nation in exchange for receiving scholarship money from the tribe.
Asked how he would address the high dropout rate in Navajo schools, Tulley again focused on the role of parents.
"The first teachers of Navajo children is mom and dad," he said. "It is not the (school) teachers. We as parents need to take hold of the reins."
Encouraging parents to be involved in their children's education from birth through graduation would have a big impact on the dropout problem, he said.
Tulley urged parents to establish clear expectations for their children in the home, again using his own experience as an example.
"I peeled potatoes, did laundry and I didn't do dishes too well and they let me off with that, but I made a contract with my children that I would do that for them if they used that time to do their homework. That was a contract I made with them."
If parents would take the time and insist on their children taking responsibility too, they could make agreements that would help the children excel in school.
After Tulley had addressed five questions, Lovejoy and Shelly took the floor. By then the audience had grown to about 500 listeners.
Lovejoy was reserved and listened intently to the questions asked by the moderators. Her answers were articulate although she stammered at times.
Asked how would she preserve the Navajo language, culture and traditions, Lovejoy's passion was evident. But like Tulley, she put the primary emphasis on more parental involvement.
"We need to step up as parents," she said. "We need to start speaking Navajo in our homes and teach our children while they're young."
By contrast, Shelly's responses evoked an emotional reaction from the audience. Asked a question that wasn't on the guide sheet provided to the moderators, however, he seemed a little miffed.
Throughout his responses, he played to the audience and got people hooting and hollering.
"I thought the questions were excellent," Shelly said following the forum. "It's nice to see the students participate."
Lovejoy also praised the event.
"I think that today's forum was great because we finally had students to sit and listen and watch us debate and give our platform," she said. "The questions were excellent. I understand that the students had a hand in formulating the questions."
The school recorded the event for posting as a downloadable podcast on its Web site, www.navajoprep.com. In addition, it is scheduled to air Oct. 28 on KNDN radio.
E-mail this story