Governor John Kitzhaber

Oregon Conference (Education) Speech
February 5 1999

 It's a great pleasure to be with you today.  As you're aware, education is among my top priorities, and before I turn to the thoughts I'd like to share with you today, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge some of those in attendance and the roles you play.

I know that many of you here today are involved in the field of Special Education.  I don't need to tell anyone how important your work is, given the growing number of children whose education must be individually structured.  This is a time-consuming and often frustrating task, particularly in light of the federal restrictions and guidelines you must operate under, and I'd like to commend your efforts and your dedication.

I'd also like to acknowledge those of you connected with Schools of Education and educational research, since in a very real sense it can be said that "the buck stops" with you.  The quality of education we offer our children in the classroom depends on how well you do your job, so I'd also like to pay tribute to you and the work you're committed to.

As for those of you who work in the trenches -- in the day-to-day delivery of education to our children -- teachers and district administrators -- your job is so critical to our future that I'm not sure it can be adequately acknowledged -- except by saying that  the debt we owe you is a very great one.

What I'd like to do now is to touch on two topics -- issues which will both affect and involve all of you in one way or another in the coming years.  The first has to do with charter schools; the second, with ways of keeping kids healthy in every respect -- and thus able to take advantage of the educational opportunities we offer.

As you know, the charter school movement is fairly recent.  It began less than a decade ago and it has gained considerable momentum in recent years.  I believe that around 30 states currently permit charter schools.  So far, Oregon is not one of them, but the 1999 legislature is already working on charter school legislation.   I thought this might be a good opportunity to clarify my own position.

The whole concept of charter schools has much to recommend it.  These schools can offer a wider range of choices to parents and students, they can allow for greater creativity and flexibility in the ways we deliver education to our children.  But at the same time, the whole idea must be considered with care.  Charter schools have the potential to enrich and enhance our system of public education.  They must never be conceived or implemented in a way that undermines or weakens that system.