[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 156 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  NORTH CAROLINA'S ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 13, 2001

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to take this opportunity to 
recognize a great partnership of the public school system and private 
sector in my congressional district in North Carolina, ``Bright 
Ideas.'' Bright Ideas is sponsored by North Carolina's 27 electric 
cooperatives. Each cooperative and their statewide association, the 
North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives, make grants 
directly to classroom teachers. Bright Ideas allows teachers with 
imagination and creativity to go the extra mile and, of course, 
students and the educational process are the ultimate beneficiaries.
  As a democratic nation, we enjoy and cherish unmatched rights and 
freedom. We are a land where individuals, regardless of background and 
circumstances of birth, can aspire to do great things. We need more 
``Bright Ideas,'' not only in North Carolina but also throughout the 
nation. And we must make sure there is no pulling back, no reduction of 
support for our public schools as a result of the crises we face. It 
would be yet another tragedy if we somehow lost sight of our priorities 
and our public schools suffered. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle said 
2500 years ago that, ``The fate of empires depends on the education of 
youth.'' As we work to ensure a secure future for our nation in light 
of unprecedented assaults on our way of life, it is important to 
remember this fact.
  During these uncertain times we must not lose sight of education as 
the foundation of our democratic and free society. We invest in our 
people by investing in our public education system. As we fight to 
preserve our way of life, public education--that solid rock upon which 
our society is built--absolutely must remain a top priority. And 
support must continue to come from both the public and private sectors.
  North Carolina's electric cooperatives are as committed to the public 
schools and to North Carolina's classroom teachers as they were in 1994 
when they made their first Bright Ideas grant. Since then, the 
cooperatives have made almost $2.5 million in Bright Ideas grants to 
classroom teachers all across North Carolina to encourage creative 
instruction. This year alone they have budgeted almost $400,000 for 
grants. The North Carolina Association of Electric Cooperatives and the 
27 local cooperatives are providing the funds.
  Bright Ideas projects are designed to spark the imagination of 
students through hands-on projects and to make learning experiences 
exciting, enjoyable and rewarding. In 2001, hundreds of North Carolina 
classrooms will become ``Bright Ideas Classrooms,'' and 70,000 students 
will have unique educational experiences that would not have been 
possible without this investment from the private sector.
  When I am asked, ``What can we do to help improve public school 
education?'' I often point to Bright Ideas as an example. This one 
program says a lot about the impact companies and organizations can 
have with a modest investment in our public schools and good teaching. 
Creative partnerships are desperately needed in most school systems to 
provide laboratory and telecommunications equipment, extra-classroom 
experiences, resources for athletic teams and bands who often receive 
little public funding, and grants for classrooms teachers, such as 
those North Carolina's electric cooperatives provide through ``Bright 
Ideas.''
  Bright Ideas is not a one-size-fits-all grant program. It is unique 
because it begins in the classroom where teachers and students put 
their heads together and devise their own learning initiatives. Then 
the teacher asks the cooperatives to fund the project they have 
devised.
  Our President has urged us to not allow our lives to be further 
disrupted by the September 11 tragedies. I would add that while doing 
that we should make sure that our priorities remain firm. Former 
president Lyndon Johnson, who faced tremendous challenges during his 
administration, said, ``At the desk where I sit, I have learned one 
great truth. The answer for all our national problems--the answer for 
all the problems of the world--comes to a single word. The word is 
`education.' ''
  Continue to focus on improving public education. One great way to do 
that is to encourage public-private partnerships such as the Bright 
Ideas program in North Carolina that our electric cooperatives have 
initiated and, working closely with teachers, made so effective.
  America's future is bright, and one reason is Bright Ideas. I salute 
North Carolina's electric cooperatives for their continuing commitment 
to this program that enhances teaching in our public school classrooms, 
and I commend Bright Ideas.

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