[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              MENTORING SAVES MINORITY CHILDREN, NAS FINDS

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                       HON. BARBARA-ROSE COLLINS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 1994

  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, saying that ``The 
underrepresentation of minorities in the health and other professions 
has long cast a shadow over our Nation's efforts to develop a more 
representative and productive society,'' the National Academy of 
Sciences in a new report calls on many segments of society to take 
steps to increase the numbers of minorities in the health professions.
  This important study calls our failures to encourage minorities to 
enter health professions leaks in the pipeline, in a chapter entitled, 
``Where the Leak Begins,'' the report notes that children begin their 
schooling with much curiosity about how the natural world works, but 
that by the fourth grade, minorities start to fall behind in science 
and math. Sometimes this starts as early as the second grade. To quote 
from the report:

       African American students start school with test scores 
     that fall within the same range as those of whites their age, 
     but by the sixth grade, African Americans in many school 
     districts are two full grade levels behind whites in 
     achievement.

  A central recommendation is to encourage mentoring, offered in a 
systematic way to students of all ages. The report notes:

       Minorities who have stayed the educational course often 
     credit someone--a parent, teacher, or mentor--for helping 
     them succeed * * *. Mentoring releases talent and energy that 
     would otherwise lie dormant.

  I am very disturbed that we are losing children so early, but I am 
encouraged by the recognition of the value of mentoring. I have 
introduced H.R. 4186, a bill providing assistance for mentoring 
programs for minority youth. As the media drowns us with images of 
young minority men and women in trouble, we must take every step we can 
to provide supports and positive images for building self-confidence 
and self-esteem.
  I hope the Members of the House will join me is passing a bill that 
with a few funds can bring great returns. The NAS study shows how we 
all have a responsibility and how these small steps can reap great 
rewards if we start early enough with our children.

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