[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 115 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H6803-H6804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ATTITUDES AND THE VALUE PLACED ON EDUCATION ARE WHAT MATTER MOST

  (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, in Life magazine this week there is a 
fascinating article about Oprah Winfrey and the influence books have 
had on her

[[Page H6804]]

life. To my mind, the article reveals more about education and whether 
a child grows up wanting to read books than all the useless conferences 
on education that go on in this town. Oprah relates an incident that 
happened to her as a child that made quite an impression on her. 
Although she is an avid reader today, her mother was not, and she 
recalls:

       I remember being back in the hallway when I was about 9, 
     and my mother threw the door open and grabbed a book out of 
     my hand and said, ``You're nothing but a something, something 
     worm. Get your butt outside. You think you're better than the 
     other kids.''

  Mr. Speaker, this kind of attitude has harmed the education and 
future prospects of many children in America. They are not told that 
books and an education are the ticket to future success.
  During all the talk about education reform, let us remember that 
attitudes and values placed on education are what matters most. Loving 
parents and teachers who teach the importance of learning matter, plain 
and simple.

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