Bush asked Include needs of insular areas in education plan

Guam Congressman Robert A. Underwood expressed his support for President George W. Bush’s education plan and called on the new administration to consider and include the needs and concerns of the territories.

“I am very happy that President Bush has made this a first priority, and as an educator, I am very heartened by the fact that education is getting central focus here in Washington, DC,” Mr. Underwood said in a floor speech.

“However, I am concerned that some of the unique needs of the territories are not being attended to. The territories have a unique relationship with the federal government and it has a unique responsibility to assist us in educational issues,” he added.

Mr. Underwood pointed out that the President’s plan makes no mention of Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa or the Northern Marianas, nor does it say how the territories are to be treated.

Since the territories are often overlooked in the crafting of national policy, the Congressman sought to ensure they were not left out of this new education initiative.

“The goal of President Bush’s plan is that no child be left behind. I would like to restate that goal so that it rings clear to everyone. No child in America should be left behind and that should include all American children no matter where they live,” Mr. Underwood told his colleagues.

He called for territorial inclusion, particularly under Title VI of the plan, in which the federal government acknowledges a special obligation to the schools that educate Native American children and military dependents, and proposes special programs and building construction for them.

“I also indicated my personal and professional concerns about standardized testing as the only measure in the accountability system for schools,” Mr. Underwood said.

He added that he believes “we should have strong standards, and that without standards we will not be able to hold educators accountable. But there are other measures besides standardized testing.”

“I’ve already begun the process of making contact with Bush administration officials, as well as members of the House Education Committee, to see if we can’t modify these proposals, as they work their way through Congress, to ensure a special role for Guam and the other territories,” he stressed.