A Future Filled with Hope

By Bob Ippel
Executive Director
New Mexico Association of Non-public Schools (NMANS)

Recently, I visited the webpage of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis. I was struck by the words from Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know full well the plans I have for you, plans for your welfare and not your misfortune, plans that will offer you a future filled with hope."

These words are especially poignant in light of the August 27 mass shooting at Annunciation, which claimed the lives of two students and left 21 others injured. A future filled with hope is what we all long for—particularly for our children and youth. Sadly, we find ourselves trapped in a partisan system more devoted to ideology than to creating that very future.

When we reflect on this tragedy at a non-public school, two familiar political stereotypes come to mind: Democrats push for gun control, while Republicans push for school choice. Democrats are often beholden to the teachers' unions, while Republicans remain tied to the NRA. The National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) almost always endorse Democrats. Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun Owners of America (GOA) almost always endorse Republicans. These entrenched loyalties leave little room for nuance, balanced discussion, or informed decision-making.

But both parties—and all of us—must confront some grim realities:

● In 2024, there were 503 mass shootings in the United States. By comparison, Canada and the UK had none, and France had two.

● The United States has more gun-related deaths than 93% of other countries.

● New Mexico ranks among the highest states for overall gun deaths and gun suicides.

● On the most recent national "report card," 32% of U.S. 12th graders scored below "basic" in reading, meaning they lacked fundamental reading skills.

● In 2022, the United States ranked behind:

     ○ 5 education systems in average reading literacy for 15-year-olds,

     ○ 25 in mathematics literacy,

     ○ and 9 in science literacy.

● In 2025, New Mexico ranked 50th in education, continuing a long-standing trend, according to New Mexico Voices for Children and NewMexicoKidsCAN.

Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike must be willing to set aside rigid platforms to build communities where families can truly anticipate a future filled with hope. Creating safe environments and supporting all schools—including non-public schools like Annunciation Catholic—should push us to abandon old talking points and embrace new solutions to long-standing problems.

We can make choices to strengthen education and community safety—both in New Mexico and across the United States. The question is whether we are willing to put hope for our children above political ideology.

About NMANS: Founded in 1973, the New Mexico Association of Non-Public Schools (NMANS) advocates for the independence of non-public schools in New Mexico. We work to ensure that these schools are free to fulfill their missions and meet the diverse educational needs of students. Through advocacy, education, and community-building, NMANS continues to support the growth and success of non-public schools across the state.