[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 FEDERAL EDUCATION DOLLARS CAN BE REDIRECTED TO WORTHWHILE PROGRAMS IN 
                             THE CLASSROOM

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I rise to bring an egregious example of 
Federal education waste to Members' attention. Through the Department 
of Education we funded an education study entitled, and I quote, 
``Channeling Your Donna Reed Syndrome.''
  Since when does the 1950s television ideal wife and mother have 
anything to do with teaching kids basic math, reading, writing, 
science, and history? As part of this education study, we learned the 
``Four Affirmations We Should Say Daily: 1, I am competent; 2, I am 
attractive; 3, I am respected; 4, I own this day.''
  While American schoolchildren lag behind the rest of the developed 
world in basic academic skills, our Federal education dollars are 
paying for the recitation of daily affirmation concepts. Instead of 
funding studies like this one, I urge Members to cosponsor the Dollars 
to the Classroom Act, which block grants 30 Federal education programs 
to States, requiring that at least 95 percent of the funds be made 
available for classroom activity.

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