[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 KANE HONORED FOR 47 YEARS IN EDUCATION

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my very 
good friend, Anthony Kane of Sugar Notch, Pennsylvania, who is being 
honored with a testimonial dinner on March 17 by the Luzerne County 
Coordinating Council and the Northeastern Region of the Pennsylvania 
State Education Association for his 47 years of hard work in the field 
of education.
  Tony was born in Sugar Notch, graduated from Sugar Notch High School 
and went on to continue his education at Wilkes College, Bucknell 
University and New York University. He obtained his master's degree in 
music education from Ithaca College.
  Tony started teaching in 1954, choosing to work at the Old 
Edwardsville School district because the pay was, as he put it, ''a 
little better'' than elsewhere: $2,400 a year, the equivalent of just 
$15,622 today.
  From that humble beginning, Tony has become a singularly important 
force in elevating the wages and working conditions of teachers in the 
region and all of Pennsylvania to a level that recognizes their 
education, dedication and the importance of the duty with which we 
entrust them, that of preparing our children for the future.
  The right to collective bargaining has been crucial to raising the 
standard of living for teachers in Pennsylvania. In addition to 
advocating for the improved wages and benefits, Pennsylvania teachers 
have also used their voice to secure more education funding.
  Mr. Speaker, Tony has been a leader in all those efforts. In 1969, 
his fellow teachers recognized his abilities as a labor leader and 
elected him president of the Wyoming Valley West Education Association. 
He has served in that post ever since, and in 1981, he was elected to 
the Pennsylvania State Education Association's political action 
committee. He has chaired numerous state and local task forces and 
committees.
  Tony's dedication to the labor movement and improving the standard of 
living for his colleague also carried over into his career as an 
accomplished accordion player. He became secretary of the American 
Federation of Musicians, Local 140, in 1962, another post he still 
holds. One of his accomplishments for his fellow musicians was securing 
a pension plan for the Northeast Philharmonic Orchestra.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives the hard work and distinguished career of Anthony Kane, 
and I join his many friends in wishing him and his wife, Sarah, well.




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