James Rogan: “we Republicans in Congress are fighting to return rigorous academic standards to the public classroom. However…”

“we Republicans in Congress are fighting to return rigorous academic standards to the public classroom. However, something just as critical is also missing from public schools: teaching our children virtue, patriotism, and citizenship. A shining example of those qualities was presented in my district last week when Lt. Comdr. Robert Curbeam, U.S. Navy, joined me in visiting four schools in the 27th Congressional District of California. For 6 straight hours, Bob Curbeam shuttled from Burbank to Glendale to Pasadena to Altadena. Bob went from classroom to classroom, and assembly to assembly talking to hundreds of children--many of them at-risk children--about his experiences as an astronaut aboard the NASA space shuttle Discovery, mission STS 85. I wish every Member of this body could have seen the faces on these children when they were able to see and listen to Bob Curbeam talking about the importance of studying hard, staying away from drugs and gangs, and believing in themselves. The final school we visited was a school for emotionally disturbed children. Many of them live at the school because no suitable family homelife is available to them. At the end of Bob's speech, two young wide-eyed boys walked up to him and said, ``when I grow up, I want to be just like you.'' What a wonderful tribute that was to a wonderful role model. That is what heroes are all about. That is what patriotism is all about. That is what Robert Curbeam is all about.”