[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 155 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7761-H7762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1020
            CONGRATULATING CHARLES BARNUM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  (Mr. COURTNEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, yesterday U.S. Secretary of Education Arne 
Duncan placed a call to the principal of the Charles Barnum Elementary 
School in Groton, Connecticut, to congratulate the school's 100 percent 
math score and 92 percent reading score in the Connecticut Mastery 
tests.
  The school's success was notable for two reasons: First, because 
Barnum is a good old-fashioned public school that raised its test 
scores to almost perfection the right way--through teamwork by 
administration, teachers, staff, students, and parents--and second, 
because it's a school adjacent to the Groton Navy sub base with over 90 
percent of its student body children of active duty Navy. These are 
families which face tremendous challenges with parents away at sea for 
months at a time incommunicado with their kids. Despite that 
environment, the Barnum community has made sure that its kids are 
achieving the highest level of proficiency in reading and math.
  Congratulations to Principal Valerie Nelson and everyone at Barnum, 
and thank you for giving the country an example of educational success 
which we in Congress should carefully examine as the time approaches to 
reform America's schools.

[[Page H7762]]



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