[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 86 (Tuesday, June 25, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1144]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF TITLE IX

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                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2002

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, on the 30th anniversary of Title IX, I am 
proud to celebrate the progress we have made since Members like Patsy 
Mink, Edith Green and others fought hard to pass this legislation. It 
is hard to believe today that there was a time when our Nation's 
colleges and universities simply denied women admission under the 
assumption that females were more interested in homemaking than higher 
education. A time when the idea of thousands of girls participating in 
field hockey or soccer was laughable. A time when only boys took shop 
class and only girls took home economics.
  We have come a long way in the last 30 years. Girls and women are 
taking advantage of opportunities in sports and school subjects that 
used to be dominated by males. In 1972, less than 300,000 girls 
participated in high school varsity sports; last year more than 2.7 
million girls played on a varsity sports team. Now, high school girls 
are taking upper-level math and science courses at the same rate as 
boys.
  We have a lot to celebrate today, but we also have more work to do. 
Studies show that in the classroom, girls still typically receive less 
attention, including praise, criticism and encouragement, than boys. In 
many colleges and universities, disproportionate gaps remain between 
the percentage of female athletes and the percentage of scholarship 
money they receive. We can do better!
  I am optimistic about the future of our Nation's educational systems 
under Title IX. We must uphold the progress we have made and, at the 
same time, continue to expand opportunities for our daughters, 
granddaughters and generations beyond.

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