[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WE MUST MAKE BETTER SCHOOLS AND BETTER EDUCATION A NATIONAL PRIORITY

  (Mr. PHELPS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PHELPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the initiatives to 
improve education for our children by building and modernizing our 
schools. As a former teacher and the husband of a teacher, as a former 
legislator, I know firsthand the burdens and constraints that 
overcrowded classrooms and antiquated buildings place on our student, 
teachers and administrators.
  Mr. Speaker, when I taught, I had so many students it was impossible 
to foster the proper learning and mentoring relationships that are 
necessary to provide quality education. In my district today, schools 
are struggling just to provide space. There are deplorable conditions. 
One school in any district does not have proper air conditioning, even 
sometimes no heat. One particular broom closet was vacated to provide a 
small library for our elementary students. One school in my district 
had to go to a local prison track for their track team to utilize for 
their team.
  Mr. Speaker, these are unacceptable conditions today in which we seek 
to prepare our students for tomorrow and for our future. We have a 
great opportunity in this Congress to make these schools a national 
priority.

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