[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 17 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1709-S1710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       KENNEWICK SCHOOL DISTRICT

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate the 
Kennewick schools and their community for being recognized by the 
Center for Workplace Preparation as 1 of 21 most effective national 
programs working to involve parents in education. We all recognize the 
vital role parents have in the social, physical, and psychological 
growth of our children. Unfortunately, whether by choice, due to other 
commitments or a lack of communication between parents, children, and 
the school, parents are all too often excluded from school activities. 
Our schools recognize that if we are going to effectively deal with the 
problems in our classrooms, we need a higher level of parental 
involvement. Fortunately, many of our parents realize they have to 
become more involved in the education of their children and have 
collaborated with their schools to develop programs which meet the 
needs of the families, the schools and the community.
  [[Page S1710]] Today, one of the greatest problems facing our schools 
is drug abuse. We all recognize the toll the drug abuse takes on our 
families, our communities, and ultimately our economy. Studies reveal 
that 70 percent of public school students aged 12 through 19 reported 
in 1989 that drugs are available at their school. Nearly 13 percent of 
8th graders, 23 percent of 10th graders, and 30 percent of 12th graders 
had five or more drinks in a row in a 2-week period during the 1990-91 
school year. And, 44 percent of all our teachers reported in 1992 that 
student misbehavior interfered substantially with their teaching.
  There is no question that safety and order are necessary in our 
classrooms if we want learning to take place. Yet, the use of alcohol 
and other drugs is unacceptably high among our school-age children and 
the results of this use are increased violence, misbehavior, and little 
desire to engage in learning. Recognizing the toll drug abuse takes on 
our schools and communities, the Kennewick School District and 
community parents came together to develop the Parent Network which 
aims to curb student substance abuse and increase parent knowledge of 
their children's activities. To join the Network, parents must sign an 
agreement that their children will remain substance free for the school 
year and will set curfews for their children. Family and student 
activities are arranged by the Network which are guaranteed to be 
substance free. I also want to stress that while the purpose of the 
program is to include parents in this process, the Network ensures that 
students have a voice in all activities. Their involvement is critical 
to the success of such programs and I am pleased the school and 
community have sought their inclusion.
  One of our national goals is to encourage parental involvement in 
education and I want to commend the Kennewick School District and their 
community not only for recognizing the importance of parental 
involvement but for implementing a program that works for our schools 
and our families. The American College Testing recently released a 
publication entitled: ``On Target: Effective Parent Involvement 
Programs'' which discusses the need for parental involvement and 
describes how the 21 selected programs are supporting this aim. I am 
very encouraged by the efforts being made by communities throughout our 
Nation and I hope other will follow the example set by these 
outstanding programs.


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