European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 6, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday november 6, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 13 commentary to educate America s children Pena est a Carl Rowan firms striving it is seemed for generations that education in America is like the weather everybody talks about it but nobody does anything about it. We have expressed anguish Over a Why Johnny can to  have had Blue ribbon panels bemoaning a a rising tide of mediocrity in our schools. We have decried the handing out of High school diplomas to teenagers who cannot read. We have denounced the failure to deliver equal educational Opportunity to Black hispanic and other minority children. We have warned that this discrimination is causing America to lose its ability to compete economically with Japan Germany and other nations. We have acknowledged that the situation will Worsen when . Companies have to rely on a labor Force of minorities and women who never got a real education. I am Happy to say that twice within a fortnight i have attended meetings that indicate that much of corporate America has received a Wake up Call even if the Federal bureaucracy continues to snooze. First i got a look at in my a ambitious and marvelous Effort to bring teaching and learning into the information age of computers video graphics and great sound. Those of us no struggled with dry readings of Tennyson a great poem Ulysses or Shakespeare a Hamlet will be amazed at How the ism education program has pumped life and interest into these works. This multimedia approach to education ought to keep millions of teen agers in school a and awake. Through in my so illuminated books and manuscripts program children will get a High tech infusion of knowledge about the declaration of Independence Martin Luther King  a letter from Birmingham jail and similar issues. History cannot be taught More interestingly than through the ism multimedia version of a Columbus encounter discovery and  recently i saw an equally impressive educational initiative in which Xerox coca cola the Prudential company Saturn industries inc., and sprint have joined Johnson publishing co. In marrying teaching and television with a video and Guidebook series Call the Ebony Jet guide to Black excellence. This series features now famous and powerful Black americans who Rose from the Depths of poverty a video portraits that should inspire the most disadvantaged of Black youngsters to believe in themselves in teaming and in their heritage of Black people using intelligence to James j. Kilpatrick break shackles and surmount barriers. While watching these splendid tools for using technology to lift education out of stultifying mediocrity one question stayed on my mind who ensures that these High tech tools of learning Are made available to All of americans children we know that there is a shameful disparity in the availability of computers to children in Rich mostly White Montgomery county and poorer heavily Black Baltimore county in Maryland. In predominantly Black and Black run Washington a child in a school in the Southeast Section of town has fewer educational opportunities than one in the affluent Northwest. A a nit child in Jackson miss., May not find this technology As readily As one in Jackson Mich. I applaud these corporations that Are waking up to their own self interest in educating All our children. I just Hope they know that All the Fortune 500 companies and foundations combined cannot provide enough philanthropy and technology to meet the needs of the millions of children who Nave been cheated for years. I Hope these corporate leaders now know that the Federal government must make a information age Quot education a top priority and see that every school has Access to the nigh tech tools of teaching that have become available. C North America Syndicate  can happen a even on Capitol Hill spread some sawdust on the floor bring on the gospel singers sign up a dozen Darling kiddies dressed As Angels for Congress has got religion. Hallelujah the boys and girls Are born again Well maybe. The papers have pretty Well covered the principal sinners. Over on the House Side speaker Thomas s. Foley d-wash., has shut Down the House Bank. No More bounced checks. He has ordered members to pay up Pronto on their restaurant tabs. No More free loading. This is not All. Rep. Charles e. Bennett d-fla., who ranks second in seniority in the House has introduced a Bill a to repeal and prohibit All exemptions privileges and gratuities for members of both the House and Senate. Yea Charlie specifically the Bennett Bill would make it illegal to furnish any member with Quot Medicine Hospital care ambulance services meals Flowers plants pictures picture frames haircuts or other items services or  Praise the lord rep. Peter h. Kostmayer d-pa., has singled out the perquisite of medical care. Under his Bill everybody would pay a full Market value for All medical services medical tests and medications that have been provided free in the past. Right on rep. Porter j. Goss r-fla., hearing the holy message has taken aim at the Perks of former speakers. Carl Albert tip of Neill and Jim Wright now enjoy paid mailing costs and office expenses As Well As the services of three staff members. All this would end three years hence. You Tell Mem Porter let the old boys write books for a living. Senate members Are not to be outdone. Sens. Howard m. Metzenbaum a Ohio Edward m. Kennedy a mass. And Alan k. Simpson r-wyo., have risen from the sinners Bench and walked in deep repentance Down the sawdust aisle. What Joy there is in heaven Charles e. Grassley a Iowa enhancing his reputation As a pain in the Senate a backside has put in a Zinger. He would crack Down hard on foreign travel. Hereafter Junke Teers would have to travel a by the most economical Means conveniently  moreover Public reports would have to identify every employee a and any other person Quot who accompanies the member on a trip abroad. Atta boy Chuck Grassley can to be accused of sudden conversion. Since he came to the Senate 10 years ago he has tried valiantly but vainly to abolish All the exemptions that Congress now enjoys from Laws that affect everyone else. It is not widely understood but congressional staffers Are treated As Little More than serfs. No minimum wage. No limit on hours of work. No overtime. If their civil rights Are violated they May complain to the ethics committee. Big Deal. The holy spirit descended upon the whole Senate on oct. 24. By a vote of 94-. 3 the Senate approved a Bill to make Federal agencies obey Federal Taw. Astounding there was no stopping the Stampede to salvation. Will Congress and the government abandon the High and mighty privileges so Long enjoyed miracles happen. They May be happening now on Capitol Hill. But done to bet the ranch. Count verbal prom Syndicate the opinions expressed in the columns and cartoons on this Page represent those of the authors and Are in no Way to be considered As representing the views of the stars and stripes or the United states government