[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8933]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION IN AMERICA

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, the success of America is a direct result 
of its public school system. We were among the first nations in the 
world to provide for universal public education for all our children. I 
would venture to say that the majority of Members of this House and the 
overwhelming majority of their staff are products of the public school 
system in this country.
  Why then, Mr. Speaker, is the Republican leadership of this House so 
hostile to our public schools. Let me say a word about the public 
school system in the Third Congressional District of Massachusetts, 
which I represent. In the city of Worcester, the families and community 
enthusiastically embrace the public school system. Eighty-seven percent 
of the children eligible for grades K through 12 attend public schools.
  Working together as a community, Worcester School Superintendent Jim 
Garvey, teachers, parents, business leaders, area colleges and 
universities, and neighborhood groups have created a school district 
with topflight teachers providing education to every child.
  This effort deserves our respect and our praise. Mr. Speaker, I will 
not support the majority's plan to dismantle our public education 
system. I urge my colleagues to reject these efforts on the House floor 
this week.

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