Buies Creek–Congressman Bob Etheridge was on campus Monday, Jan. 14, to address students enrolled in Campbell’s North Carolina Teaching Fellows program. Weighing in on issues such as “teaching to the test,” the future of education and his desire to establish a national Teaching Fellows program, Etheridge was candid about the roles of leadership and perseverance in his own success. A 1965 graduate of Campbell University, Etheridge was raised on a farm in Johnston County.”I came to Campbell with just enough money for one semester,” he said. “But I learned quickly that scholarship money was the only way I could pay for my education.”Playing Fighting Camels basketball, Etheridge earned full athletic scholarships to the University for the next three years. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and went on to become a Harnett County Commissioner, North Carolina Superintendent of Schools, state legislator and member of the U.S. House of Representatives.”Coming from a poor Johnston County farm, I never thought I could do the things that I’ve done,” he said. “I’m living proof that you can come from nothing and through hard work, accomplish anything.”As a state superintendent of schools and a legislator, education has always been a central issue to Etheridge.”Education levels the playing field and creates opportunity,” he said. “I don’t look at it as expenditure, but as an investment.”As state superintendent, Etheridge was the first to give laptop computers to public school teachers; created a statewide task force to “fix” education in North Carolina; retooled the curriculum so that teachers taught what was to be assessed; and developed the PSAT or Preliminary SAT exam for North Carolina. He is proud of his record for standardized educational assessment.”It’s not ‘teaching to the test’ when you draw from the curriculum of what students are actually being taught in class,” he said. “What assessment is about is student growth.”The No Child Left Behind Act with its increased accountability for states, school districts and schools, will prove to be the most effective education legislation in recent history, he predicted. “If that law is renewed, it will become an educational model,” Etheridge said.Campbell University’s Teacher Education program was recognized by the state in 2006 when it was selected to participate in the North Carolina Teaching Fellows program. The program is designed to attract high caliber students into the teaching profession by awarding substantial scholarship money to support students who will major in education and agree to teach at least four years in a North Carolina public school. Campbell University currently has 13 North Carolina Teaching Fellows.Etheridge represents North Carolina’s Second Congressional district where he serves on the House Agriculture, Budget and Homeland Security committees. He is the chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management of the House Agriculture Committee. Photo Copy: U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge receives a memento of Campbell’s North Carolina Teaching Fellows program from Lauren Bajorek, a freshman from Cary, N.C. (Photo by Grey Winn)
U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge speaks to Campbell Teaching Fellows