[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CHANGES IN AMERICA'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of May 
12, 1995, the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Hancock] is recognized 
during morning business for 3 minutes.
  Mr. HANCOCK. Mr. Speaker, on May 27, 1947, Central High School, 
Springfield, MO, graduated 563 students. On June 13 and 14, 1997, the 
class of 1947 will commemorate the 50th anniversary of this momentous 
and historical occasion. Rarely does a Member of the United States 
Congress have the opportunity to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of 
his own high school graduating class in the Congressional Record. Even 
I cannot do it because I will no longer be a Member of the U.S. 
Congress on the actual date next year.
  Many of our class only remain in our memories. This pleasant memory 
of a group of 563, most of whom went on to become outstanding citizens 
and contributors to society, is a tribute to the educational system 
existing 50 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I am going to take this opportunity for a few very brief 
remarks about the changes in our educational system in the past 50 
years.
  This class of 1947 attended school when sleeping or chewing gum in 
class and running in the halls were heinous crimes. The class of 1947 
had student hall monitors instead of armed police officers and entrance 
metal detectors. Discipline was demanded and I do not know of any of 
the 563 students even confronting the school administration with their 
attorney concerning their Rights. Attention deficiency syndrome was 
treated with a failing grade. Now we give the parents a check and treat 
the kids with psychological evaluation to find out why they do not like 
their parents or themselves.
  No, this was not a perfect time. Smoking tobacco and some alcohol use 
existed. However, marijuana and cocaine was not part of our vocabulary. 
This was when local school boards made decisions rather than the 
bureaucrats in the State and Federal Departments of Stupidity. The 
National Education Association was in its infancy. Too bad it survived 
and grew into the monster it now is.
  Every one of us who graduated in 1947 should be thankful for having 
lived in the fastest growing economy the world has ever seen, in the 
greatest country ever envisioned by mankind.
  If I could have one wish for future generations, it would be for our 
educational system to again teach that freedom is not free, it always 
requires sacrifice and that civil rights never should supersede our God 
given inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
happiness.
  On our 50th anniversary it is time to reflect and also to look 
foreword. Change is inevitable. Let us pray that the principles we were 
taught will some day again be in vogue.
  I am looking foreword to June 13-14, 1997, in Springfield, MO, to 
seeing the senior high school class of 1947.

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