Investments in Community's Skills, Education Will
Result in Growth and Progress for Education Century

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11/22/2000
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- Investments in our community's skills and education will result in a period of growth and progress for South Carolina's Education Century, Frank S. Holleman, III, deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, told a crowd of business, industrial, education, government and political leaders at Tri-County Technical College's Annual Report to the People Luncheon

"The nations and communities that invest in their people – and in their knowledge and skills – stand to benefit tremendously in the international marketplaces and those that do not risk being left behind," said the Seneca native who, last December, was appointed by President Clinton to serve as the chief operating officer of the Department of Education and principal advisor to Secretary of Education Dick Riley on program policies and budget.

Americans' involvement in education is at an all-time high and growing, said Mr. Holleman, adding that 54 million children are attending our nation's schools and more than 15 million Americans are attending college.

"Yet, at the same time, we are facing an increasingly competitive international economy where knowledge and skills – not size or missiles – will determine which counties and which communities win out," he cautioned. "If we do not have the necessary skilled workers in Silicon Valley, Atlanta, or here in Pickens County, through the wonders of technology and communication, many of our businesses can have their work performed in Bangalore, India, in Eastern Europe, or in the Netherlands."

A long-term comprehensive planning strategy is imperative, said Holleman.

"We have to have high quality -- and the key word is quality -- early childhood pre-kindergarten program for all of our kids," he said. "Research has repeatedly shown us that all children, but particularly a poor child or a child with a disability, does better in school, is more likely to graduate from high school, ultimately does better in the workplace, if that child has the benefit of a quality early childhood development program."

Equally important is that all children can read well by at least the end of the third grade, he added.

"We have to be sure that we attract and keep the best possible teachers and principals in our public school system. Research tells us that the most important factor determining the level of achievement of the child – particularly poor kids – is the quality of the teacher in the classroom and that the principal is the key leader in determining the success of the school. That's why the effort to raise teacher salaries in South Carolina, and efforts to reform teacher education and mentoring, are so important," he said.

Making critical academic choices in middle and high school will allow students to take advantage of post-high school education, he said. "A strong high school curriculum is the ultimate tool for equity in education -- if a student takes the tough courses in high school, he is just as likely to succeed in college, whether he is poor or affluent, from a poor school or an affluent school."

He urged the crowd of educators and parents to "instill in our kids' minds that learning doesn't end at the high school or college level, but it is a lifelong process. Instead of K – 12, we need to think of pre-K – 14 or 16 or, better yet, a lifetime of learning," he said.

Partnerships with institutions like Tri-County Technical College help to build the highly skilled workforce of the future, he said.

"We need to view Tri-County Technical College as an extension of the public schools in the three counties. Building partnerships with Tri-County and business and industry can develop and expand the workforce skills of the people. "We must have a comprehensive partnership between the public schools, Tri-County, the nearby four-year institutions, local, state and federal governments, and our businesses and industries, so that we will have the highly skilled workforce that the industries of the coming century must have or they will go elsewhere to find the workforce they need."

"We have to be concerned about our workforce, our economy and our international competitiveness," said Mr. Holleman. "But ultimately we work in education to change people's lives for the better. Education is about the liberation of the human spirit."
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