Nambé Community School (Nambe, N.M.)

It was through the efforts and financial assistance of Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus McCormick that the Nambe community school project was undertaken. In 1937, realizing that Nambe's school was not meeting the community's needs, the McCormick's brought together Dr. Loyd Tireman of the University of New Mexico's College of Education and Mr. Joseph Granito, Santa Fe County Superintendent of Schools to discuss the possibility of developing a community school. The McCormicks offered to subsidize the school for 5 years so there would be no additional tax burden. Backed by the majority of the community, the project went forward.

In cooperation with the parents, the Nambe community school would design and implement a program that would make the best use of all available resources. Foremost, the school would determine and address the most important needs of the community: health, infant mortality, social relationships, land management, craft work, recreation, command of the English language. Secondly, the school would utilize the community's resources: fields, arroyos, homes, shops, and the expertise of community members. Proficiency in the three R's was an expectation. The school would liaison to county, state and federal agencies in pursuit of additional funding and resources. The curriculum would be kept flexible so that it could meet and address community needs as they arose.

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