[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10572-H10573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
                    WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. Gene Green, is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Senator Dole, at the Republican 
National Convention, blamed teachers for the failure of our educational 
system. Senator Dole attacked teachers and particularly teacher unions 
and associations.
  I stand today to note that Senator Dole's logic disturbs me. Teachers 
in our schools are now required to do much more with much less, and 
they do not deserve this kind of treatment. Many resent this attack, 
because they work hard, day and night, to prepare our children for the 
future.
  In last Saturday's edition of the Houston Chronicle there were 
several letters from teachers responding to Senator Dole's comments, 
and I want to read some of their remarks. Senator Dole was talking 
about unions or associations, and you cannot attack an association 
without attacking the members. The members, again, are the ones who are 
providing that opportunity for our children to be citizens, educated 
citizens for our tomorrow.
  JoNell Parker of Humble, TX, wrote, ``In referring to public funding 
of private schools, Bob Dole said in his acceptance speech before the 
Nation on August 15th, `There is no reason why those who live on any 
street in America should not have the same right as the person who 
lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the right to send their child to the 
school of your choice.' As a teacher and a member of the teachers' 
association whom Dole attacked, I have to admit I agree with the right 
to choose. I just don't believe I should have to pay for his choice. 
Public support of religious indoctrination is unconstitutional. Taking 
tax money from public schools and giving it to private, for-profit 
institutions is financially unsound and elitist at best.''
  In a letter to the editor that same day, Judy Hoya of Houston, TX, 
said, ``Bob Dole's attack on teachers' unions in his acceptance speech 
tried to place the blame for the problems facing our schools on the 
people who are trying to solve them,'' and I will repeat, he is placing 
``the blame for the problems on the people trying to solve them'' when 
you attack the classroom teachers. ``Bob Dole is out of touch with the 
educational mainstream. He would be far wiser to join with the 80 
percent of the teachers who are in the unions to help solve problems in 
our schools.''

  Martha Barrett of Kingwood, TX, remarked, ``What a way to launch a 
Presidential campaign, attack teachers and kids in American schools. 
Bob Dole said in his acceptance speech that `Teachers unions nominated 
Bill Clinton in 1992. They are funding his reelection campaign now and 
they, his most reliable supporters, know he will maintain the status 
quo.' ''
  Ms. Barrett of Kingwood continued, ``I don't speak for all teachers, 
but I personally feel much better about a Presidential candidate 
supported and funded by teachers then one supported by tobacco 
interest.''
  Finally, Sherry Mutula of the Pasadena Education Association stated 
in Pasadena, TX, ``I would like to set Bob Dole straight on the errors 
in his acceptance speech. Attacking America's schools and teachers, he 
said, `Not for nothing are we the biggest educational spenders and 
among the lowest educational achievers of the leading industrial 
nations.' '' He was wrong according to Ms. Mutula. ``America does not 
lead the industrial nations in education spending for K-12 public 
education. We are not even close. Of the top 17, America ranks 12th.
  ``The American people have been named the most productive workers in 
the world. Know where 90 percent of those workers were educated, Bob 
Dole? In the public schools of America.''
  The 21st century will bring new challenges for our young people, and 
we have an obligation to educate them to

[[Page H10573]]

deal with these challenges. Democrats believe that education is the key 
to our children's future and the key to our country's continued 
success.
  Under this Republican Congress, however, education has not fared 
well. In 1995, Senator Dole supported the largest cuts in Federal 
education funding in the history of our Nation, and the assault 
continues. Instead of considering further education cuts, we should be 
involved in debating increasing Federal commitment to our children's 
education.
  Most of education is paid for at the local and State level, but as a 
Nation we have to be competitive with the world. It is time to stop 
blaming teachers for our educational problems and start blaming those 
who have consistently opposed funding for education. We will be judged 
by how we treat and educate our children.
  Senator Dole, who has a poor record on education, should be judged 
appropriately on November 5.

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