[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO DR. BARRY HARDING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2000

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Superintendent Barry Harding of Robeson County in the great state of 
North Carolina. Dr. Harding was recently named National Indian Educator 
of the Year by the National Indian Education Association. Dr. Harding, 
a former teacher, coach, principal, associate superintendent, and 
special assistant to the superintendent, is the second Lumbee Indian in 
the association's history to receive this award. This high honor was 
bestowed upon him in recognition of his major contributions to 
improving educational opportunity and quality for the children of 
Robeson County.
  When I think of Dr. Harding's commitment to education, the words 
``spirit, sacrifice, and service'' come to mind. Dr. Harding's positive 
spirit has always been to do the task at hand--a spirit that inspires 
students to achieve. His sacrifice in time and commitment has been to 
make Robeson County a better place for children to learn and live.
  Pearl S. Buck once said, ``To serve is beautiful, but only if it is 
done with joy and a whole heart and free mind.'' There is no question 
that Dr. Harding's twenty-six years of service have been the epitome of 
this statement. Service to our children, the citizens of tomorrow, has 
been the embodiment of his life.
  Nearly half of the 24,000 students in the Robeson County school 
district are American Indian, and Dr. Harding represents one of the 
voices that have spoken out to help improve the education of Native 
Americans--an education that recognizes, not denies, heritage and 
culture. Like Dr. Dean Chavers, the Lumbee educator born and reared in 
Pembroke, North Carolina, who went on to receive his Ph.D. from 
Stanford University and raise money for Native American scholarship 
funds, Dr. Harding has fought to make Indian education part of the 
national education agenda.
  John F. Kennedy once said, ``Let us think of education as the means 
of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a 
private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit 
for everyone and greater strength for our nation.''
  Dr. Harding has chosen to dedicate his life to inspiring and 
educating America's children. He has helped our children and our youth 
develop their greatest abilities, and in doing so, he serves as a 
reservoir of strength for our community, state, and nation. Dr. 
Harding, may God's strength, joy, and peace be with you and your family 
as you continue your service and commitment to our children.

                          ____________________