[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 120 (Thursday, September 11, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H7203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PUBLIC EDUCATION IS THE ENGINE OF PROGRESS

  (Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to take strong objection to the 
derisive tone about public schools, labeled ``government schools,'' as 
we debate the merits of vouchers. Universal public schooling is 
uniquely American and is the basis for the progress of this Nation.
  We forget that basic public education has sustained this country 
through difficult times. It was the engine of industrial development, 
made the 21st century the American century, and makes us the leader in 
the Information Age. We have forgotten the intrinsic relationship 
between our public schools, not someone else's government schools, and 
our national development.
  If there are problems, and there certainly are, then let us fix them 
with resources and reform, and that is what we stand for on this side 
of the aisle. But we must remember that reform means altering to 
improve, not to deny resources so that improvement cannot occur.
  Regardless of what has been stated, this is the bottom line on 
vouchers. It is an elitest idea masquerading as a public benefit which 
will radically restructure the very American school system that has 
made possible the progress we enjoy as Americans.
  Are there any John Deweys or Horace Manns left in this country?

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