[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2172-H2173]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Pickering] is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National 
Teacher Appreciation Day to express my gratitude to teachers who have 
helped shape my life, and to my family, many of whom have taught, and 
continue to teach today. The theme of this year's National Teacher 
Appreciatiom Day is: One teacher can shape a child, one child can shape 
the world. I am thankful for this day so that we can praise those who 
shape not only our lives individually and our children and our 
communities but also shape our future.
  My grandparents on my mother's side were both teachers; W.C. Thomas 
and Ivon Thomas. They came of age during the Depression. My grandfather 
became a principal at a small rural agricultural high school and then 
went on to teach at the junior college that serves my area. I had the 
benefit during the period in which I grew up of having adults come to 
me as a child and saying, ``If it had not been for your grandfather, I 
would not have stayed in school, and I would not be what I am today.''
  It gave me a true appreciation and an understanding for the role of 
what teachers and those in the education community give to people. My 
mother was a teacher and was a director of a kindergarten program. I 
have three sisters. Today, one teaches fifth grade in Opelika, AL. My 
oldest sister has six children and home-schools. My other sister taught 
freshman composition at the University of Mississippi. My aunt, Karen 
Pickering, teaches fifth grade at Calhoun Elementary School.

                              {time}  1200

  I come to this day with appreciation for what teachers give, and I 
want to give specific praise to one teacher, one coach, who had a 
specific influence on my life and to whom I am not sure that I would be 
here as a Congressman today if he had not given me encouragement at a 
critical point in my life. His name is Lonnie Meaders. He began 
teaching and coaching in 1950, and he served the Jones County-city 
schools for almost 30 years. He was my junior high football coach. When 
I finished junior high, most people thought that I was too small and 
too slow to continue at the high school level. He encouraged me to 
continue playing when no one else did.
  My 10th grade year, my first year in high school, I was the smallest 
on the team. I made up for the lack of size with an even greater lack 
of speed. In my 11th grade year, I began to play. In my 12th grade 
year, I had enough success on the field to earn a college football 
scholarship.
  It was that experience of continuing to play when no one else thought 
that I could or should that gave me the confidence and gave me a 
foundation to believe that with hard work that I could succeed. It was 
Coach Lonnie Meaders who influenced not only my life, but countless 
others who went through the Laurel city schools. He was also the tennis 
coach, his 9th grade team went 18 years never losing a match. We are 
blessed to have those like Coach Meaders who teach us and encourage us 
at critical points in our lives.
  I now have four children ages 7, 5, 3 and 1, and I want to thank Mrs. 
Harper, who teaches my oldest child today. She has brought a young, 
shy, 7-year-old out, and he is beginning to blossom as she encourages 
him on a daily basis.
  My job in representing the teachers and the families of my district 
is to

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make sure that we give the resources, the freedom, and the flexibility 
to our teachers so that they can help shape the character of our 
children. Teachers can help establish the fundamentals upon which our 
children will prosper and, hopefully, one day succeed at whatever their 
dream may be.
  For those who have taught me, to my family which has served the 
education community, I want to extend a special thank you to them all.

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