[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 91 (Wednesday, June 25, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H4379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY FOR TEACHERS ACT

  (Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, in an effort to address the challenges of 
technology in our Nation's classrooms, I am joining with the gentleman 
from Minnesota [Mr. Vento] in introducing the Technology for Teachers 
Act. This bill would establish two competitive grant programs under the 
auspices of the Department of Education. One program would promote the 
inclusion of education technology in the initial undergraduate 
preparation of new teachers. The other would promote education 
technology as part of the ongoing professional development of current 
teachers. The Office of Technology Assessment recently released a study 
that shows that most new teachers graduate from teacher preparation 
institutions with limited knowledge of the way technology can be used 
in their professional practice. The study also revealed that a majority 
of classroom teachers feel they need additional training in order to 
adequately use a personal computer. Yet a review of the data on teacher 
training and technology reveals that school districts across the 
country spend very little of their technology budgets on teacher 
training.
  Mr. Speaker, advanced technology has improved America's economic 
competitiveness and improved the quality of life for millions of our 
citizens. By the year 2000, just 3 years away, 60 percent of American 
jobs will require technological skills. This bill is going to enhance 
and give teachers the training they need to meet the classroom 
challenge of the future.

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