[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      GOOD EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN WILL ENSURE AMERICA'S FUTURE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I ran for Congress, and I am here today, 
because I believe that our children's education must be the number one 
priority in this country. We must prepare all of our children for the 
high-skill, high-wage jobs that will ensure America's leadership in the 
world marketplace and, at the same time prevent dependency on welfare 
here at home.
  Public education is the backbone of our country. It is why we are a 
great Nation. Public education must be available to all, and it must be 
the best in the world. Public education does not discriminate; and it 
must be strengthened, not weakened.
  This Congress, we have an opportunity that comes along only once 
every 5 years, and that is the opportunity to review and update the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, ESEA.
  ESEA is best known for Title I, the education for the disadvantaged. 
ESEA is known for the dollars it sends to schools. Title I is important 
because it helps disadvantaged children achieve along with their more 
fortunate peers, and it helps poor and impacted schools and school 
districts keep up with the more advantaged schools and school districts 
in this Nation.
  Title I must be supported; and, as well, we must ensure that every 
child gets individual attention in the early grades to build a solid 
foundation for future learning. We can do this by making the 
administration's initiative to reduce class size permanent. This 
initiative helps school districts recruit, hire, and train enough 
qualified teachers to reduce class size to an average of 18 in grades 1 
through 3.
  Current research findings prove what parents and teachers have known 
for years: Kids who are in smaller class sizes learn better, especially 
in the lower grades. Our schools need 100,000 new, well-trained 
teachers.
  We also know how hard it is for children even in small classes to 
learn in trailers or in old school buildings that are crumbling around 
them. I support the President's proposal to make it easier for school 
districts to fund needed schools and to build new ones by providing 
interest rate subsidies for school construction bonds over the next 2 
years. Is it not time to show all of our children that their school is 
as important as a shopping mall or as a prison?
  While I certainly support the current emphasis on ending social 
promotions, ESEA is also the place to assist all schools in preventing 
students from failing in the first place. Title XI of ESEA lets school 
districts spend up to 5 percent of their Federal education funds on 
coordinated services, services that will bring schools and their local 
communities together to make sure that, every day, every student comes 
to school ready to learn. Services such as health care, before and 
after school care, and tutoring ensure that no child is doomed to fail 
before they even enter the classroom.
  There are wonderful examples all around the Nation of schools and 
communities working together to lift children and their families out of 
an endless cycle of failure and into a future of success.
  Students who are ready to learn need well-trained teachers who are 
experts in their subjects. They need a challenging curriculum and up-
to-date technology to prepare them for the sophisticated world we live 
in. Every student, regardless of family income, race or gender must 
have access to the most modern technological education available.
  In addition, teachers as well as students must have mentors; and they 
must have support for learning to use technology so that they will be 
comfortable and knowledgeable in a technological environment.
  As a member of both the Committee on Education and the Workforce and 
the Committee on Science, I am excited to have this significant 
opportunity to make positive changes in our children's education; to 
remove any economic or gender gap in science, math and technology; to 
ensure small classes with well-trained teachers; to provide funding for 
modern, safe schools; and to give all students a world-class education.
  Mr. Speaker, children are only 25 percent of our population, but they 
are 100 percent of our future. A sound public school system is how we 
protect that future. A good education for all of our children will 
ensure America's future.

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