[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          NEW REPORT INDICATES WHAT U.S. STUDENTS DO NOT KNOW

  (Mr. TRAFICANT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, a new report says that American students 
just do not know: 70 percent do not know the name of the Vice 
President; 40 percent do not know the three branches of government; 25 
percent do not know what the fifth amendment means; and only 2 percent 
know the name of the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
  On the other hand, 99 percent know Michael Jordan, 99 percent know 
Mark McGwire, and 60 percent of American teenagers can cite all three 
names of the Three Stooges. Is it any wonder American students rank 
14th around the world in achievement test scores?
  Beam me up, Mr. Speaker. It is a sad day when more teenagers know 
Monica Lewinsky than Judge Rehnquist. And it is a sadder day when more 
teenagers know Larry, Moe, and Curly than reading, writing, and 
arithmetic.
  Think about that one.

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