[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 56 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL TEACHER DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 9, 2006

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of National 
Teacher Day. I thank the National Education Association (NEA) for 
sponsoring National Teacher Day in honor of the teachers who work 
around the clock to help students develop the skills they need to 
succeed in life.
  This year's National Teacher Day theme, ``Great Teachers Make Great 
Public Schools,'' recognizes the instrumental role that teachers play 
in making sure that every child receives a quality education. In recent 
years, especially with increased global competition, there has been an 
emphasis on the need to improve our schools and to ensure that every 
class is taught by high quality teachers. Fortunately, today's public 
school teachers are the most educated, most experienced ever. The 
percentage of teachers with a master's degree has more than doubled 
since 1961 from 23 to 57 percent, and more than 75 percent of all 
teachers sharpen their skills by participating in professional 
development related to their grade or subject area. Nine out of 10 
teachers only teach subjects in their licensed subject area.
  American school teachers work tirelessly to educate our Nation's 
students. Many of these teachers work out of crumbling old buildings, 
teach overcrowded classrooms and do the best they can with outdated 
materials and little access to technology; additionally, they are paid 
a salary that reflects neither their great worth nor their ability. For 
the benefit of children, these dedicated individuals spend an average 
of 50 hours per week and spend an average of $443 per year of their own 
money on class supplies even though the average starting salary for 
teachers is only $31,704 per year.
  Confronted with a difficult job, school teachers rise to the 
challenge and I am grateful for today's opportunity to honor them. 
Unfortunately, this day is also bittersweet because as we recognize the 
achievements of America's teachers we must also remember the 
shortcomings of this Congress in failing to help them meet the mandates 
of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
  The No Child Left Behind Act was passed with the greatest of 
intentions, but major funding shortfalls have plagued school districts 
and handcuffed teachers, leaving them focused on federally mandated 
testing standards and on demonstrating adequate yearly progress (AYP) 
without providing them with the funding necessary to help students 
achieve. If this year's budget is passed as is, it would leave NCLB, an 
initiative that this Administration spearheaded, with $15.4 billion 
less than authorized levels, bringing the total amount that has been 
shortchanged from the program to over $55 billion. In a recent survey, 
NEA member-teachers cited ``working to increase funding for public 
schools'' as their top priority. As teachers work to make American 
schools great, it is a shame that this Congress has failed to fulfill 
its responsibility and continues to hold schools accountable to these 
unfunded mandates.
  Today, I urge my colleagues to honor the work of America's teachers 
not just in word or through events, but by committing to fully fund 
NCLB so that our teachers can succeed in their mission of making sure 
every child receives a quality education.

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