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Journal of the House
________________ Tuesday, April 25, 2000 At ten o'clock in the forenoon the Speaker called the House to order. Devotional Exercises Devotional exercises were conducted by Speaker Michael Obuchowski of
Rockingham. Pledge of Allegiance Page Morgan Wilbur of Plainfield led the House in the Pledge of
Allegiance. Joint Resolutions Placed on Calendar The Speaker placed before the House the following resolutions which were
read and in the Speaker's discretion, placed on the Calendar for action
tomorrow under Rule 52. J.R.H. 246 Joint resolution urging the annual ringing of bells on July 4 Offered by: Representative Levin of Hartland Whereas, on July 4, America's Independence Day, we celebrate the
issuance of the Declaration of Independence, the birth of our nation, and
the liberties that we so dearly cherish, and Whereas, the ringing of bells to commemorate Independence Day
metaphorically and triumphantly symbolizes pride in our democracy, and Whereas, the simultaneous ringing of bells in places of worship, public
buildings and other locations provides a resounding chorus to praise the
United States on her very special birthday, and Whereas, upon hearing these glorious chimes, Vermonters will pause, not
only to celebrate our freedoms, but to remember the thousands of Americans
who have paid the ultimate price, their very lives, to assure the
preservation of our freedoms, and Whereas, in an effort to encourage this symphonic ode to liberty, the
United States Congress, at the urging of members of the Girl Scouts of
America, has adopted a resolution promoting this most appropriate 4th of
July event, and Whereas, recognizing that the broadest possible participation of
Vermont's bell ringers, in this Independence Day musical moment, will
provide a most moving experience for the residents of our state, Junior
Girl Scout Troop 161 of Hartland has sung its praises on behalf of this
noble endeavor, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That the General Assembly urges the bell ringers of Vermont to
enthusiastically and patriotically sound their chimes precisely at 2:00
p.m. on each July 4 in celebration of American Independence and our
cherished land of liberty, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this
resolution to Deborah Christie-Maples in Windsor and Susan Murphy in
Hartland. J.R.H. 247 Joint resolution relating to Family Week. Offered by: Representatives Seibert of Norwich and Milne of
Washington Whereas, the family is an important institution for our society, and Whereas, we are observing in our nation a breaking up family life at
an increasing rate with serious effects in many segments of our society,
particularly the welfare of children and the weakening of the greatest
strength of America, and Whereas, there is increasing concern among all Americans over the
dissolution of family life and the effects such destruction portends for
our nation, and Whereas, good family relationships constitute the primary source of
strength in our community, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That we hereby recognize the week beginning Sunday, November 19,
2000, as Family Week J.R.H. 248 Joint resolution honoring Claire Oglesby for her exemplary career as
a primary school teacher who instills in her students an appreciation for
cultural diversity Offered by: Representatives Darrow of Newfane, Cross of Winooski,
Darrow of Dummerston, Deen of Westminster, Doyle of Richmond, Jordan of
Middlesex, Kreitzer of Rutland City, Miller of Shaftsbury, Obuchowski of
Rockingham, Osman of Plainfield, Partridge of Windham, Smith of Sudbury,
Suchmann of Chester and Vincent of Waterbury Whereas, Claire Oglesby is a very special public school educator whose
goals are hardly confined to the rudimentary skills of reading, writing and
arithmetic, and Whereas, for 45 years, she has inspired young children to experience
different cultures as a way to appreciate the diversity of our world, and Whereas, after graduating from Mills College of Education in New York
City, she commenced her teaching career at the Brooklyn Community Woodward
School, one of the first public schools in the United States dedicated to
interracial education, and Whereas, after teaching at the Walden School in New York, Claire Oglesby
migrated to Putney, Vermont where she taught at the Grammar School and the
Putney Central School before coming to her true home, Westminster West, a
two-classroom school, where since 1966, she has been a much beloved first
and second grade instructor, and Whereas, each year she has focused on a specific culture, such as India
or Africa, as a way of conveying to her young students the fundamental
importance of cultural diversity and intercultural understanding, and Whereas, Claire Oglesby's innovative and individualized child-centered
teaching has won much praise, and has been the subject of three films, two
designed for teacher training, and most recently, a wonderful documentary
by Lisa Merton and Alan Dater entitled, "The World in Claire's Classroom, "
and Whereas, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to intercultural
understanding and the children of Vermont, she has been the recipient of
numerous honors, including the 1970 Vermont Teacher of the Year Award, the
World of Difference Award from the Anti-Defamation League, the Unsung
Heroes Award from Northern Life Insurance Company, and an honorary master's
degree from Marlboro College for excellence in education, now therefore be
it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives: That the General Assembly is pleased to honor Claire Oglesby for her
enduring contribution to the children of Vermont, as a caring and
innovative educator, who teaches by instilling in her students an
appreciation for cultures different from their own, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this
resolution to Claire Oglesby at the Westminster West School. House Bill Introduced H. 860 Reps. Blanchard of Essex, Howrigan of Fairfield, Parizo of Essex and
Sweetser of Essex introduced a bill, entitled An act relating to the Charter of the Essex Junction School District; Which was read the first time and referred to the committee on Local
Government. Joint Resolution Placed on Calendar The Speaker placed before the House the following resolution which was
read and in the Speaker's discretion, placed on the Calendar for action
tomorrow under Rule 52. J.R.S. 104. By Senators Illuzzi, Bloomer, Canns, Cummings, Doyle, Ide, Mazza and
McCormack, Joint resolution urging the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of
the Interior to permanently protect the Civil War site Hamilton's Thicket
near Fredericksburg, Virginia through its purchase by the federal
government and addition to the existing Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania
National Military Park. Whereas, the First Vermont Brigade stood firm on May 5 and 6, 1864,
in the Battle of the Wilderness, near Fredericksburg, suffering 1,234
casualties in the desperate fighting for the intersection of the Brock and
Plank roads, and Whereas, through their bravery and monumental sacrifice the
crossroads was held and the Union Army of the Potomac was not sundered, and Whereas, Brigadier General Lewis Grant, commander of the Vermont Brigade,
said after the battle, "The flag of each regiment, though pierced, still
flaunts in the face of the foe, and noble bands of veterans with thinned
ranks, and but few officers to command, still stand by them; and they seem
determined to stand so long as there is a man to bear their flag aloft, or
an enemy on the field," and Whereas, thousands of other soldiers, Union and Confederate, fought
there, particularly during James Longstreet's flank attack of May 6, 1864,
and Whereas, the land upon which this desperate fighting took place in
the Battle of the Wilderness is truly hallowed ground, particularly that
land in the southwest quadrant of the Brock-Plank road intersection, where
most of the Vermont casualties were suffered, and Whereas, the Union Army of the Potomac led by Ulysses S. Grant drove
on to Robert E. Lee's surrender a year later at Appomatox Court House, and Whereas, this historically significant Civil War battle site, now
known as Hamilton's Thicket, remains in private ownership, all attempts
having failed to purchase and protect it and make it part of the
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, and Whereas, that land should be forever protected and preserved in honor
of the brave men, Union and Confederate, who struggled there, and which the
men and women of Vermont supported in every way, and Whereas, the National Park Service has a continuing commitment to the
preservation of Civil War battle sites and to the study of this pivotal
episode in American history through programs such as the symposium
"