[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S14994]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        MISS AMERICA SHAWNTEL SMITH'S POSITION ON SCHOOL-TO-WORK

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, we were very proud to present to all of 
America today Miss America, Shawntel Smith. She has requested that I 
submit her statement, which she made today on the lawn of the Capitol, 
for the Record.
  I ask unanimous consent at this time to have printed in the Record 
the statement by the new Miss America, and former Miss Oklahoma, 
Shawntel Smith.
  There being no objection, the statement was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            School-to-Work: Reinventing America's Work Force

       (Platform Statement of Shawntel Smith, Miss America 1996)

       As global communications and technological propel us toward 
     the 21st century, we Americans are falling further and 
     further behind. Everyday, millions of men and women wake up 
     and go to work in jobs that fall short of their American 
     dream, while in some places as many as 50% of our high school 
     students simply drop out. Because many American workers and 
     students are neither motivated nor clear about their economic 
     future, they flounder.
       As a nation, our competitive positions remains stagnant. 
     Lagging productivity growth rates, rising unemployment and 
     the absence of a skilled work force widen the gap between 
     America and its competitors. American business and industry 
     struggle to fill the jobs that exist because candidates lack 
     the skills and education to make the grade.
       America's classrooms and America's workplace today are out 
     of sync. We're simply not preparing our nation's youth for 
     the high skill, high wage jobs of a technology-based economy, 
     and for that we all suffer. Students who cannot find the 
     relevance in what they're learning, adults who cannot replace 
     lost jobs, educators who cannot motivate their students, and 
     employers who cannot compete.
       As Miss America and as a student, I advocate school-to-work 
     solutions that prepare today's students for tomorrow's 
     workplace, providing them with appropriate and clearly marked 
     paths from school to work or to continuing education. In 
     doing so, I will encourage partnerships among the educators, 
     employers, employee groups, students, parents, government and 
     community leaders that spawn local school-to-work 
     initiatives. Such initiatives not only offer ``first chance'' 
     opportunities to students entering the work force but 
     ``second chance'' opportunities to the unemployed and 
     underemployed as well.
       My very first priority will be to generate awareness for 
     the school-to-work philosophy, reaching out to those who 
     deserve its benefits but as yet are unaware of its existence. 
     As I travel this country, I will seek out effective 
     partnerships between educators, employers and students, 
     sharing their stories with those who care to hear. I will 
     speak with a sense of urgency because, in this case, there is 
     no time to spare.
       Among educators, I will encourage them to provide high-
     standards academic and relevant education that prepares all 
     students for college, vocational or technical training, 
     career education or immediate entry into the work force. I 
     will ask them to take responsibility for ensuring that 
     America's students be ready to succeed in a high-technology 
     workplace.
       Among employers, I will urge them to ensure the future 
     competitiveness of America by taking an active role in the 
     development of educational curricula and by providing work-
     based learning opportunities for all students. I will also 
     ask them to examine the investments they make in human 
     capital and to provide job training and retraining to all 
     levels within the workplace.
       Among students, I will motivate them to discover their 
     personal paths from the classroom to the workplace, showing 
     them that the American Dream is still attainable. I will 
     challenge them to stay in school, so they can take from the 
     education process what they'll need to succeed in the world 
     of work. and I will help them understand that the process of 
     lifelong learning is the key to their productivity and 
     happiness.
       From America's classrooms to its tool rooms to its board 
     rooms, I will serve as a catalyst for change by shining the 
     Miss America spotlight on and bringing a forceful voice to 
     this new movement, a movement which seeks to put all 
     Americans to work and makes our country strong and 
     competitive once more.
       These pledges I make today, the 11th day of October, 1995.

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