[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 29, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S13512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           NETDAY STUDENT VOICES' SPEAK UP DAY ON OCTOBER 29

 Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I rise today to ``speak up'' and 
support ``Speak Up Day,'' a national event where students of all ages 
and grades, from communities and schools across the country, will go 
online from their classrooms and share their opinions, ideas and 
thoughts about how technology should be used in schools. NetDay, a 
national non-profit organization dedicated to connecting every child to 
a brighter future through the use of technology, is hosting this 
inaugural event of student participation in the governmental process.
  ``Speak Up Day'' is being held as the U.S. Department of Education 
works on the development the Nation's third National Education 
Technology Plan as mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act. The Plan 
will establish a national strategy supporting the effective use of 
technology to improve student academic achievement and to prepare 
students for the 21st century.
  Today's ``Speak Up Day'' activities will allow the student voice to 
be heard and involved in crafting this new Technology Plan. NetDay will 
summarize the student ``Speak Up Day'' comments into a written report 
that will be submitted for the National Education Technology Plan and 
will be available online for public discussion. This report will also 
be a call to action for national, State, and local education leaders to 
recognize the importance of student input in discussions about how 
schools and instruction impact their educational experiences.
  I think we can all agree that using technology in schools has become 
a necessity. With the expansion and prevalence of the Internet in our 
society, it is critical that we teach our children how to use 
computers, the Internet, and the various other forms of interactive 
technology that exist today. Yet beyond the necessity of `learning' 
technology, it is important that educators and communities understand 
that so many of our youth today are already `one' with technology. The 
challenge lies in understanding how to connect this technological know-
how with classroom instruction so that all our children have the best 
educational experience possible to prepare them for the future. ``Speak 
Up Day'' is a real life lesson on the impact of technology in the 
classroom, a forum for students to be civically engaged, and an outlet 
for our Nation's youth to express their empowerment when technology is 
paired with education.
  Since October 1, over 1,000 schools from all 50 States, the District 
of Columbia, and over 25 Department of Defense schools have 
preregistered for NetDay's ``Speak Up Day'' initiative, with over 
170,000 students planning to participate. I am pleased that schools 
across the State of Michigan have registered to take part in this 
event. Over 5,000 students from small rural schools in Middleville, MI, 
to suburban schools in West Bloomfield and high schools in Detroit will 
have the opportunity to express their thoughts on technology in 
schools. I highly commend NetDay for sponsoring this progressive event, 
and I look forward to hearing the outcome of the discussion.

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