[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HOME EDUCATION WEEK

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                             HON. ROY BLUNT

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 24, 1997

  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to voice my support along 
with the Missouri State Senate and the Missouri House of 
Representatives for home education. The Missouri General Assembly has 
designated the second week of May as Home Education Week. Missouri has 
been recognized as a leader nationwide in the home education movement. 
Home Education Week is a good way to acknowledge those parents in 
Missouri who have helped to establish a strong foundation for quality 
home education.
  Home education has always been unique because it provides the 
opportunity for children to be taught by their parents or someone the 
parents trust. Home educators are able to meet the individual needs of 
their children by designing educational lessons for each child. They 
also provide children in home education numerous opportunities to learn 
through hands-on activities, where they are able to apply what they are 
learning in real-life settings. The one-on-one interpersonal ties that 
are developed in home education between a parent and their children 
establish solid mentoring relationships.
  I know of many families in the Seventh District of Missouri that I 
represent who educate their children through more than just their 
textbooks. They regularly take field trips and conduct science 
experiments so that they can apply what they are learning. I know one 
family who has entered award-winning projects in the Ozark Empire Fair 
in science and drawing competitions as well as winning awards 
regionally and statewide in speech contests. The Will Purvis family is 
one of many southwest Missouri families who are making a visible 
difference in the education their children through home education.
  I want to thank each parent who has made the decision to educate 
their children at home. This decision requires a great amount of 
dedication. This dedication requires planning and preparation that 
involves many extra hours and late nights of preparation. Their 
dedication results pay off in home-educated students that do well when 
they compete with their peers nationwide in private and public schools 
and in higher education. We should continue to support their dedication 
as they continue to make a visible difference.

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