European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 27, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday december 27 1993 education the stars and stripes Page 9students get inside Story on Russia by Joseph Owen Heidelberg Bureau russians recent parliamentary election was just a blur of news headlines to Many americans but 42 department of de sense dependents schools students experienced the Campaign there firsthand. While attending a Model . Conference in Ivanovo an Industrial City some 250 Miles Northeast of Moscow the teenagers interviewed both an aspiring parliamentary candidate and an elected Par Hamen tarian who was quitting in disgust. Some also heard from Ordinary russians or at least those interested in International affairs about what kind of a country they want a the impression i got was that they wanted a democracy. They did not want to go Back to communism a said Scott Beider a senior at Vilseck High school in Germany. Several other students Drew similar conclusions. But they also noticed that Many russians Are humiliated by their nations decline in wealth and global influence a trend they want to reverse. A they want to do it so fast a Vilseck senior Vera Jones said of the russians longing for economic Prosperity. A they done to realize it takes a Long  the late november trip stemmed from Ivanovo students recent visits to the West according to Wilma counts the trips organizer who teaches a Model . Class at Ramstein High school in Quot Germany. One group of russians came to the Ramstein school in 1991, and a second group accompanied a team of Ramstein students to the Model United nations in the Hague Netherlands in 1992. The american travellers spent four Days in Moscow three in Ivanovo and then another night in Moscow before returning Home. Five school system staff members and a tour guide from a Berlin travel company supervised them. The trip Cost $850 per person. The students found the russian politicians to be vague and evasive especially when asked about the parliamentary revolt that prompted russian president Boris n. Yeltsin to order the oct. 4 military attack on the parliament building. A fall their answers totally beat around the Bush a said Junior Melissa Scroggins one of 18 Heidelberg High school students on the trip. The Model . Conference served both As a forum for practising English and As a preparation for the big annual conference in the Netherlands. But com it seemed really dreary. Everyone wore dark dark colors. A Melissa Scroggins Heidelberg High school Junior they treated me like Royalty. They  let me make the Beds a Mari Koons Heidelberg High school senior they did t know any parliamentary  a Joe Wilson Heidelberg High school Junior Jared to Western conferences the one at Ivanovo seemed chaotic the american students said. A they did no to know any parliamentary procedure a said Joe Wilson one of Scroggins classmates. The americans Learned much about russian politics and economics through the various committee sessions but they Learned even More outside them. They found that life in Ivanovo a nondescript russian City of some 500,000 inhabitants can be rather grim. Streetcars were constantly late and overcrowded. A discotheque opened for Only an hour one weeknight because the management expected too Many drunks to show up. Russian Host students recruited older Brothers and friends As bodyguards for the americans fearing that their guests would become targets for criminals. Some High Rise apartments where the americans stayed had no hot water or functioning elevators. A one girl did t even have a bathroom. She had a Hole in the floor Quot said Vilseck senior marry Milter. The students also found that a a variety was a useless word when describing everyday clothing or food in Russia. A it seemed really dreary. Everyone wore dark dark colors a Scroggins said. Quot i think every meal i had there had meat or potatoes or both a said Cameron Hall another Heidelberg Junior. The poverty was inescapable. When Wilson a Host family members discussed Money they revealed that their combined salaries amounted to about $125 a month. Suddenly Wilson realized he was carrying the equivalent of four months of their pay in his Backpack. A Sas on the other hand the americans admired the fact that All Streetcar seats were reserved for elderly passengers. It seemed everyone could play a musical instrument. The apartments were clean. And the russian posts were Friendly and extremely curious about americans. A they treated me like Royalty. They would no to let me make the Beds Quot said Maria Koons a senior from Heidelberg. The russians read More than americans the students said but they also like to watch  television shows now broadcast in Russia. And they play american games. Wilson a Host family enjoys the decidedly capitalist Board game monopoly for example. A i beat them so bad. I Felt awful a he said. A the father made a comment that it was just like real life the americans arc always ahead and the russians arc lagging  Richard Knapp a Heidelberg teacher who travelled with the group said the trip was unusual because the Heidelberg students interest in it never waned. A even with the crisis in october when we were coming up with the Money they stuck right with it a Knapp said. And Many of the students remain enthusiastic. Quot i most definitely want to go Back a said Charlene Upeslacis a Vilseck senior. A i definitely will because in be always had an interest in russian culture a Miller said. �?�1 just had an awesome  counts the Ramstein teacher also Hopes for future trips. A i would like to Sec it happen again because 1 think it was a very worthwhile program Quot she  school Chain accused of deception Washington apr a Chain of Trade schools that has received More than $133 million in . Federal student Aid apparently tried to hide the fact is was spending Large sums to recruit students according to documents and Federal investigators. A the game is to show All expenses Are focused on the students in school a stated a confidential memo to managers of the Philadelphia based pc career institutes which has schools in Philadelphia Washington Newark . Baltimore Chicago and Atlanta. The associated press obtained a copy of the document which suggests that Job titles be changed and regrouped to portray a bigger emphasis on education to state regulators and an accrediting Agency the career College association. The schools Are under investigation by the department of education which is expected to Cut off Aid next month. Virtually All the schools Money comes from Federal student Aid. The problems at pc Are not unique. Education department investigators say for profit Trade schools cos the game is to show All expenses Are focused on the students in  a confidential memo of pc career institutes $1 billion or More in wasted Federal student Aid each year. Such schools train far More people in Fields like truck driving cosmetology and Security than can Ever Hope to find jobs. Taxpayers foot the Bill students Are left discouraged and the Trade school owners Are the chief beneficiaries Federal officials say. The 1992 memo from pc vice president de Stra Nix to the schools owners noted that pics Baltimore location had spent $396,830 for Quot telemarketers and surveyors to recruit new students. Together with advertising the Baltimore school spent half a million dollars on sales efforts compared with just $7,692 for educational supplies and services $1,867 for student testing and $2,392 for student activities the memo said. To remedy the problem Quot the payroll Section on the 1992 audited statement should show that the school has High costs in the instructional and student services areas and Low costs in the administration and admissions areas Quot he suggested. In a letter this month to the school the education department said the memo a suggests an intention to deceive the department and state agencies regarding it cd a expenditures and appears to acknowledge that pc has made affirmatively false statements to the state of  Stranix left his Job dec. 13 because a it Wasny to working out a a school official said. His memo she said does not accurately reflect How the schools spend their Money. A the bulk of the company s Money goes to salaries for teachers to equipment a she said