[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INNOVATIVE RESPONSES TO YOUTH VIOLENCE AND SCHOOL DROPOUTS RATES

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                            HON. ROBIN HAYES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 4, 1999

  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, educators in communities across the country 
are searching for innovative methods to assist families in combating 
the threats that plague so many of our nation's high schools. Drugs, 
juvenile violence, high school students dropping out of their 
education: schools have a responsibility to partner with parents in 
safeguarding our children from these hazards.
  In 1997, the last year for which we have reliable statistics 
available, there were 706,000 violent crimes involving teenagers. To 
reduce this number, we have to start early: as former Winston-Salem, 
North Carolina police chief George Sweat has said, ``the fight against 
crime needs to start in the highchair, not wait for the electric 
chair.''
  Nationwide, 5 percent of students drop out of school. Only 40 percent 
of high school dropouts are employed. Dropping out often leads students 
to drifting, trouble and sometimes crime and time in jail. As the 
demands of the workplace grow more dependent upon high levels of 
literacy and technical skill, high school dropouts will increasingly 
face problems in getting and keeping jobs.
  The American family is the bedrock of hope for instilling values in 
children that can keep them on the right path. But our schools can help 
as well. The use of innovative methods to educate and encourage young 
people to respect themselves, to stay in school and out of trouble is 
essential. One such method is a public-private partnership to which 
over 40 percent of American schools belong. These schools work with the 
Channel One Network, an in-school news analysis program that reaches 
eight million American students daily. Studies have shown that public 
service announcements by this programmer for military recruitment and 
drug prevention have been extraordinarily effective. Students in 
Channel One Schools have more negative impressions of drug use. They 
are also more likely to consider enlisting in their nation's armed 
services.
  I believe that schools must increase such effective programs in the 
areas of juvenile violence and high school dropout prevention. I intend 
to work hard to ensure that our government expands its support of our 
schools' efforts in this direction.

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