[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E727]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE NATIONAL TEACHER DAY

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                        HON. ANIBAL ACEVEDO-VILA

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2004

  Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA. Mr. Speaker, as Resident Commissioner of Puerto 
Rico, I am proud to recognize the significance of ``National Teacher 
Day''. Teachers are a valuable source of morals, veracity and integrity 
for millions of students in Puerto Rico and the United States. The 
Congress of the United States and various teachers' organizations have 
recognized their devotion and commitment through ``National Teachers 
Day,'' since the 1940's.
  The work that teachers perform every single day is worthy of such 
recognition. Unfortunately, violence in schools has become a common 
denominator affecting teachers and students alike. Earlier this year in 
Puerto Rico, we have seen students and teachers attacked or killed by 
students in their classrooms, turning schools into a battle field where 
teachers and students are losing their lives. Episodes of this nature 
demean and undermine this remarkable profession, and erode the spirit 
of education.
  Teachers are a testament of perseverance in every student. As Members 
of Congress, we must focus on the contributions that every single 
teacher makes to the development of a healthy, well-educated and 
cultured youth in our society. The issues affecting our teachers 
challenge all of us to contemplate what we genuinely value in our 
society.
  Looking into the future of our communities in Puerto Rico, the role 
of a teacher in our children's lives becomes a necessity more than a 
luxury. The progress of a population is determined by the skills and 
the preparation that an individual acquires and develops during the 
early learning phases, phases that are often initiated by teachers.
  Teachers are more than authority figures inside a classroom full of 
students--they are heroes in our society. Their love for their work 
should be awarded and respected everyday, ``National Teacher Day'' is a 
symbolic indication of the importance and magnitude of their profession 
in creating the future leaders of our society. As a proud Puerto Rican, 
I salute and thank the teachers in Puerto Rico and in the United States 
for their remarkable job, and I ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the ``National Teacher Day.''

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