[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 356 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 356

  Expressing the sense of the Senate that Members of Congress should 
  substitute teach at least 1 day per year in a public school to gain 
firsthand knowledge on how to address the prevailing challenges facing 
    educators and how to remove obstacles to learning for students.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 11, 2017

 Mr. Kennedy (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

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                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the Senate that Members of Congress should 
  substitute teach at least 1 day per year in a public school to gain 
firsthand knowledge on how to address the prevailing challenges facing 
    educators and how to remove obstacles to learning for students.

Whereas teachers play a critical role in shaping the minds and lives of 
        children;
Whereas there were 3,100,000 full-time public school teachers in 2016;
Whereas approximately 200,000 teachers leave the profession each year;
Whereas in the 114th Congress, there were more than 3 times as many Members of 
        Congress that had backgrounds in public service or politics than Members 
        of Congress that had backgrounds in education; and
Whereas Members of Congress should be on the ground in public schools to 
        understand the challenges that educators and students face, including--

    (1) a growing shortage of teachers;

    (2) issues of teacher pay;

    (3) a lack of resources, in both urban and rural areas;

    (4) teacher preparedness;

    (5) chronic absenteeism among students;

    (6) poverty; and

    (7) parental involvement: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the contributions of teachers to the United 
        States;
            (2) thanks teachers for their service; and
            (3) recommends that each Member of Congress spend at least 
        1 day per year serving as a substitute teacher in a public 
        school.
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