[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 145 (Friday, October 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H9504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PAULDING COUNTY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

  (Mr. BARR of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as we in the Congress continue to 
grapple with the problem of making sure Americans have the skills they 
need to work productively in today's society, I am pleased to report 
that the school system in my district has found a successful way to 
approach this perennial problem without Federal mandates, without 
government interference, without tax increases, without national 
standards.
  The Paulding County School System in Georgia's Seventh District, 
under Superintendent Ray Parren and Apprenticeship Coordinator Nick 
Pedro, has developed a youth apprenticeship initiative that places high 
school students in meaningful work experiences during their junior and 
senior years. It provides them with a broad range of on-the-job 
experience with an employer of their choosing that is compatible with 
their career goals, even allowing them to begin college work while 
enrolled in high school.
  Mr. Speaker, my office is a proud participant in this program. 
Nichole Robinson and Julie Turner have greatly assisted our staff and 
acquired valuable work experience along the way.
  I encourage all schools to begin actively searching for ways to 
partner with local businesses and government agencies. By preparing 
students to compete in an increasingly specialized and complex economy, 
we can help ensure continued national economic growth, prosperity, and 
academic excellence.

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