[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 26 (Wednesday, March 3, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   LEAVE NO MISSISSIPPI CHILD BEHIND

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 3, 2004

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following 
speech, dated January 7, 2004, given by Joyia Smith, Student Body 
President at Greenville-Weston High School in Greenville, MS, at a No 
Child Left Behind Forum.

       The No Child Left Behind Act is a landmark in education 
     reform, ``designed'' to improve student achievement and 
     change the culture of America's schools. The name alone has 
     we uninformed students thinking that test scores would fly up 
     and there would really be ``no child left behind''. When this 
     legislation first appeared, I was just an incoming sophomore. 
     Our school individually had a lot of concerns. At the same 
     time NCLB was introduced, our students were trying to adopt 
     an unneeded merger. It was like a ``double improvement'' for 
     us. Our school administration had us under the impression 
     that we would no longer be ``trapped in the dead end of low 
     performing schools''. In addition to strong accountability, 
     NCLB puts a special emphasis on implementing educational 
     programs. The whole idea was so parents would know their 
     children's strengths and weaknesses, parents would know how 
     well schools were performing, and parents would know the 
     schools have quality teacher training and resources. This is 
     a good plan. I as a student leader just don't feel it was 
     carried out as it should have been. Everything that seems 
     good is not good for you. We must be able to admit when we've 
     made a mistake and move on. ``When dreams turn into dust, you 
     should vacuum.'' Like Thomas Jefferson, ``I too like the 
     dreams of the future better than the history of the past.''

  I admire Joyia for her attentiveness and the detail in which she 
expresses her analysis of federal legislation. Her comments truly speak 
bounds. Her outstanding scholarship is a positive reflection on her 
personal dedication, family, and school district. May Joyia Smith 
continue to excel in her endeavors.

                          ____________________