[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 139 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H10039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN IS CRITICAL TO AMERICA'S FUTURE

  (Mr. ROYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, in my view, nothing is more important to the 
future of this country than the education of our children. Our kids are 
going to be the future doctors, the future scientists. They are going 
to be our future leaders. As such, we want to assure that they have the 
best education possible.
  This comes down to a question of who knows best how to develop that 
curriculum. Who should be developing that curriculum? Should it be the 
teachers? They are in the classroom. Or should it be some bureaucrat 
miles and miles away? Should it be some bureaucrat in Washington, D.C. 
that develops that curriculum?
  The Federal Government today operates 760 Federal education programs, 
39 different Federal education agencies. This is $100 billion that we 
spend on education. Yet, public education for some reason is worse than 
it was 20 years ago. It is worse.
  We can improve education by shifting decision-making power towards 
principals, teachers, parents, and people who have a direct impact on 
learning. That is why I am pleased to have cosponsored the Dollars to 
the Classroom resolution, which urges the Department of Education to 
spend 95 percent in the classroom.

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