Bonamici Honors Late Beaverton Teacher on House Floor

WASHINGTON, DC [11/16/16] — Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) honored beloved teacher James Barlow on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Barlow taught social studies in the Beaverton School District from 1962 to 2005, and in the mid-1960s started the Model Presidential Nominating Convention for high school students.

You can watch Bonamici’s remarks here and read her remarks as prepared for delivery below:

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of a dedicated teacher, mentor, and public servant, Mr. James Barlow. Many of us in public service can name a person who inspired us, or clearly remember an experience that ignited our interest in the important issues that are shaped through politics and government. For thousands of Oregonians, that spark was Mr. Barlow.

Born in Portland, Oregon in 1929, Mr. Barlow earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Oregon State University. He taught social studies in the Beaverton School District, in Oregon's First Congressional District, from 1962 until 2005. He always made his classrooms laboratories of curiosity.

Some of his best lessons didn’t take place in a classroom at all: they happened on the floor of the Model Presidential Nominating Conventions, started by Mr. Barlow in the mid-1960s. Every four years for four decades, thousands of high school students from all over the state would gather, usually in Portland, from 9 am to 9 pm. They would step into the role of state delegations, vote on platform issues, cast ballots for the nomination, and broker and negotiate with other delegations.

They got ready for this by studying their assigned state's demography, history, politics and economy. Mr. Barlow and his colleagues prepared the students for months, leading class discussions on candidates in the primaries, the American political landscape, and the intricacies of "delegate math." The student participants had to be sharp and organized; I know this firsthand because my son participated in the 2004 Model Convention and took preparatory evening classes with Mr. Barlow at Portland State University.

These Model Conventions were no simple class simulations: major presidential candidates came and spoke to the crowd of student delegates. Robert Kennedy, Nelson Rockefeller, George McGovern, Hubert Humphrey, Jesse Jackson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Michael Dukakis, and Bill Clinton all stopped at a Model Convention as they campaigned ahead of Oregon's presidential primaries.

The model conventions exemplified Mr. Barlow's leadership, enthusiasm, and imagination, but former students tell me that he also connected with and motivated his students in smaller, quieter ways.

His psychology, philosophy, and current affairs courses were legendary at Aloha High School, where he spent most of his career. He inspired students to think beyond tests and essays, challenged them to think critically, and encouraged them to consider new perspectives on information they consume. As a teacher, he saw the potential in every single student. With his dry wit, deep knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm for his subject matter, Mr. Barlow created a learning atmosphere where everyone felt – and everyone was - welcome and valuable.

There was something that helped with the welcoming. Doughnuts. Long before doughnuts became a craze in Portland, Mr. Barlow was bringing them to his classes or to his colleagues in the social studies office. He would announce, "Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the Starlight Room." There was no Starlight Room, but the phrase evoked a gracious and relaxed lounge space. The school year in the Portland metro area is typically rainy, and fall and winter school days often start before dawn, but his words and treats were always a welcome pick-me-up.

The day after his death, scores of Mr. Barlow's former students and colleagues observed "coffee and doughnut day," going out for a sugary bite and hot cup of coffee and posting pictures on social media. It was touching to all who knew him.

The life and work of Mr. James Barlow matter also to those who never knew him. That's because he taught thousands of Oregonians to be active, engaged, and sharp-thinking participants in our democracy. Whether they went on to work in public service or not, and no matter what their party affiliation, the students of Mr. Barlow became better citizens because of his contributions.
Mr. Speaker, I hope we can all be inspired by Jim Barlow's example as we serve in this remarkable House of Representatives. I offer my condolences to his family, especially his wife of 47 years, Susan, his former colleagues, and to the generations of students who mourn his loss. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.

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