[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 152 (Monday, December 11, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2169-E2170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING BEN ALEXANDER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 11, 2000

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, this coming January, the Colorado State 
Board of Education will lose a tremendous leader in Mr. Ben Alexander. 
Serving as a Member-at-Large since January, 1999, Ben has developed a 
reputation throughout Colorado for his work in the education reform 
movement.
  Ben initially entered public service in the Colorado General 
Assembly. Elected as a state senator, he crafted meaningful education 
reform legislation as the chairman of the Education Committee. One 
particular bill involved increasing the per pupil expenditure for 
charter school students to more closely parallel that of

[[Page E2170]]

their government school counterparts. I remember fondly, serving beside 
Ben on the Senate Education Committee. Clearly he has earned the title 
of ``Statesman,'' and I'm proud to call him a friend.
  Throughout his distinguished public service, Ben has consistently 
worked to promote better teacher training and evaluation. Colorado's 
Governor, Bill Owens, recognized Ben's innovation and leadership and 
tapped him as a key player in Colorado's education reform movement. He 
worked hard with Governor Owens to implement the Colorado Student 
Assessment Program, a plan that measures the progress of Colorado 
students toward content standards in reading, writing, math, and 
science.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1818, Thomas Jefferson said, ``A system of general 
education, which shall reach every description of our citizens from the 
richest to the poorest, as it was the earliest, so will it be the 
latest of all the public concerns in which I shall permit myself to 
take an interest.'' This quotation embodies Ben Alexander's career in 
public service. We will dearly miss his service on the State Board of 
Education.

                          ____________________