[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 74 (Thursday, May 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1044-E1045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 EDUCATION REFORM, A RURAL PERSPECTIVE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 1999

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Gerald 
Keefe, Superintendent of Kit Carson School District R-1 and a member of 
my Fourth Congressional District Education Advisory Board. I would like 
to enter into the Record a recent letter from him on education reform.
  Superintendent Keefe's common sense ideas emphasize the importance of 
basic values, including respect for elders, peers, teachers and 
community. Creating a school culture which affirms values is central 
not only to the success of the school but to the stability of society. 
To generate an environment of respect, schools should adopt high 
standards and good discipline measures.
  Secondly, Superintendent Keefe stresses the need for local control. 
He believes cutting federal red tape to ensure money gets to the 
classroom is essential. Streamlining regulations, especially those 
revolving around the Individuals with Disabilities Act is also 
necessary to ensure each child gets the attention he or she needs to 
achieve.
  I look forward to working with Superintendent Keefe as the Committee 
on Education and Workforce, of which I am a member, undertakes the 
reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the 
primary source of education funding.
  I would like to finish with a quote from author Robert Greenleaf: 
``Great ideas, it has been said, come into the world as gently as 
doves. Perhaps then, if we listen attentively, we shall hear, amid the 
uproar of empires and nations, a faint flutter of wings, the gentle 
stirring of life and hope.''
  In rural Colorado, far from Denver, far from the noisy rancor of 
Washington, far from the proposals and speeches, there are people who 
are making a difference with quiet confidence.

                               Kit Carson School District r-1,

                                                   Kit Carson, CO.
     Congressman Bob Schaffer,
     Cannon House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Schaffer, First let me commend you on the 
     outstanding job you are

[[Page E1045]]

     doing in reforming public education. It's a tough task as you 
     know and I admire your efforts.
       I was intrigued by the findings of the Education at a 
     Crossroads report that highlighted characteristics of 
     successful schools. I wholeheartedly agreed with that report 
     and I would like to briefly touch on those findings and offer 
     a few other comments as well.
       Please understand that I offer a rural perspective on 
     education and as such my background and feelings may differ 
     from those of my urban colleagues. Rural Coloradans crave 
     technology and would welcome any legislation that increases 
     opportunities in that area for small districts. Technology of 
     course comes with a price tag, but the return on the 
     investment in this area makes it an acceptable cost. The SLC 
     Universal Service Discount has been helpful but other funding 
     opportunities would be welcomed as well.
       I applaud your efforts to directly deliver dollars to the 
     classroom instead of seeing a large portion of those funds 
     siphoned off by the bureaucracy. You are most certainly on 
     the right track in this area.
       Schools also desperately need the ability to instill basic 
     values in their populace. Respect for ones' elders, country, 
     teachers, fellow students and school community are in my mind 
     essential not only for successful schools but for a stable 
     society as well. Court rulings and legislation restricting 
     the rights of schools to discipline and set standards for 
     their students have improved somewhat over the years, but 
     more progress is still needed in this area.
       Schools must be administered at the local level and even 
     though I welcome federal funding from the budget side of the 
     equation, that enthusiasm is tempered by the knowledge that 
     increased federal control may also result from this 
     arrangement.
       Special Education is another topic of great concern. I feel 
     that it has become a trap that students often do not return 
     from. It needs to be streamlined so that the classification 
     of students with disabilities is a true and accurate one and 
     not just a convenient label to explain away juvenile 
     behavior.
       My Catholic school background tells me that some of these 
     students need a paddle against their backside and not a 
     protective label that provides a ready made excuse to justify 
     anti-social behavior. IDEA legislation should be written to 
     ensure that only those who have a significant need for 
     special education services actually qualify. We are pleased, 
     however, with the Title One program and how it operates in 
     our district.
       Vocational Education has the potential to offer a wide 
     variety of opportunities for rural America and as such I ask 
     that continued funding of those programs remain a priority.
       After I familiarize myself with specific topics facing 
     Congress through your Ed-Link publication I would be willing 
     to comment on those issues in greater detail. I feel I have 
     spoken today in a very broad sense but I hope my comments are 
     still of some value to you as you tackle the challenges 
     facing America's schools.
       Thanks for your time and effort on behalf of the citizens 
     of House District 4 and thanks again for the opportunity to 
     serve on your education advisory committee.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Gerald Keefe,
                                                   Superintendent.

     

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