[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 30, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2901-H2903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING AMERICA'S TEACHERS

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1130) recognizing the roles and 
contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our 
Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1130

       Whereas education and knowledge are the foundation of 
     America's current and future strength;
       Whereas teachers and other education staff have earned and 
     deserve the respect of their students and communities for 
     their selfless dedication to community service and the future 
     of our Nation's children;
       Whereas the purpose of National Teacher Appreciation Week, 
     May 4, 2008, through May 10, 2008, is to raise public 
     awareness of the unquantifiable contributions of teachers and 
     to promote greater respect and understanding for the teaching 
     profession; and
       Whereas a number of organizations representing educators, 
     such as the National Education Association and the National 
     Parent Teacher Association, are hosting teacher appreciation 
     events in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives 
     thanks and promotes the profession of teaching to encourage 
     students, parents, school administrators, and public 
     officials to participate in teacher appreciation events 
     during National Teacher Appreciation Week.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Platts) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important contributions 
that teachers make to our Nation. Next week is National Teacher 
Appreciation Week. The National PTA created Teacher Appreciation Week 
in 1984 to show gratitude to the many teachers in the United States. It 
is a chance for us to thank those individuals who have contributed 
greatly to society in ways that cannot be measured. It is a chance for 
us to recognize the selflessness and dedication of teachers and to show 
our respect for the teaching profession.
  Mr. Speaker, we know that good teachers make a tremendous difference 
to our Nation's youth. During the last decade, a body of evidence has 
grown to support the notion that teacher quality is the single most 
important factor outside of the home in affecting student achievement. 
Teachers serve as excellent role models and instill a love for 
knowledge and lifelong learning in our students.
  We know that teaching is an important profession that deserves our 
support and respect. Teachers have the important job of helping to 
shape tomorrow's leaders. Those in the teaching profession work 
tirelessly for little reward, and good teachers constantly reflect on 
their lessons and modify instruction to reach the diverse needs of the 
students in their classrooms. Quality teachers hone their skills and 
are experts not only in the subject matter, but also in connecting with 
young people and making learning come alive.
  Unfortunately, research has also shown us the negative impacts of 
teacher shortages. It is important and imperative that schools and 
communities support teachers. National Teacher Appreciation Week is an 
opportunity for all of us to pursue and recognize the selfless 
dedication of our educators. It is also an opportunity for us to 
recognize the importance of education and make absolutely certain that 
every child in America has the greatest opportunity to achieve this 
commodity that we call education. So we have to search our budgets, 
stretch our imagination and find the resources that are necessary to 
attract the best and the brightest individuals into the teaching 
profession.
  Yes, there is no greater profession in our country than that of 
teaching. I call teachers the salt of the Earth, the pillars of the 
universe, those individuals who give of themselves each and every day 
so that others will have the opportunity to connect with this vast 
reservoir of knowledge that we have to be spread around.
  I am indeed pleased, Mr. Speaker, to join with all of those who urge 
passage of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1130, 
recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers in 
educating and nurturing our Nation's children and thereby building and 
enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural and economic well-being.
  A teacher's role in student development is irreplaceable. All of our 
lives have been influenced by the teachers that directed our 
classrooms, classrooms where students acquire the knowledge necessary 
to become a part of our Nation's future.
  Showing teachers appreciation and recognition during the upcoming 
National Teacher Appreciation Week which takes place next week helps to 
remind us how important teachers are and what an integral role they 
play in the lives of our Nation's citizens. It is important that we 
recognize teachers for the critical work they do in improving our 
Nation in so many ways.
  Teachers today devote more of their lives to teaching young people 
than ever before and spend more time on professional development, their 
own education and on class preparation outside the classroom. Teachers 
spend an average of over 50 hours per week on teaching duties and an 
average of $443

[[Page H2902]]

each year out of their own pockets to meet the needs of their students, 
all the while earning an average annual salary of slightly more than 
$31,000.
  The future of our Nation's children is dependent on the individuals 
to make these time, energy and monetary commitments, and they deserve 
recognition for their service.
  On a personal note, I certainly am honored to recognize the teachers 
I had in kindergarten through 12th grade in the New York suburban 
school district and know but for their support and guidance, I would 
not have had the opportunity to pursue my dreams, including the dream 
of serving in this very body, the United States House of 
Representatives.
  Behind the upbringing of my mom and dad, my teachers, Dorothy Mirtz, 
my third grade teacher who is now 97 years old and still going strong 
as I visited with her just a few weeks back, my eighth grade teacher, 
Earl Lucius, who took the lessons of my parents of community service 
and inspired me to pursue a career in public service, they and so many 
other teachers and administrators I had the blessing to interact with 
in my education and career played a critical role in my life, as 
teachers do in all of our Nation's children's lives, in the past, the 
present and the future.
  So I am honored and pleased to stand in support of this resolution, 
recognizing the important roles and contributions of America's teachers 
and support National Teacher Appreciation Week.
  I certainly thank my colleague, Mr. Graves from Missouri, for 
introducing this resolution, and encourage an ``aye'' vote in favor of 
the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe).
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, teachers plant the seeds of learning in the 
minds of their students. I support America's teachers and I am proud to 
be a cosponsor of this resolution. This measure recognizes significant 
roles and contributions that America's teachers have had and continue 
to have building and enhancing our country's civic, cultural and 
economic well-being.
  The U.S. Census Bureau reports that there are 6 million teachers in 
the United States. I, like many others in this House, turned out the 
way I did because of teachers that were in my background, like my 
seventh grade Texas history teacher, Mrs. Wilson. She formed early on a 
desire in my soul to go into public service, and she gets the credit or 
the blame, whichever people see, for my lifetime career in public 
service.

                              {time}  1530

  I also come from a long line of teachers. My mother was a teacher; my 
wife is a teacher; my three daughters are teachers, and two of those 
teach at elementary school level and one of my daughters teaches at 
Baylor University. And even while I was prosecuting back in Houston, 
Texas, I spent some time teaching law at the University of Houston.
  But teaching isn't just a tradition in my family. Teaching has been a 
tradition in this country since its very inception. Back then, of 
course, most teaching happened at home under the instruction of 
parents. Today, parents have many options when it comes to education of 
their children. Some are taught in private schools, others public 
schools, some at charter schools, and others continue to home school.
  Teachers play a primary role in equipping our youth to be good 
citizens, to take pride in the democratic heritage of our Nation, and 
to be competitive on the world marketplace of ideas. Teachers spend a 
long week and long hours teaching our greatest resource, children.
  This year, we celebrate National Teachers Week on May 4 through 10, 
and let's be sure to let teachers know that those, especially that have 
touched our lives, how important they are. And like the bumper sticker 
says, ``If you can read, thank a teacher.''
  And that's just the way it is.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and again thank all 
the teachers of our great Nation for their devotion to our Nation's 
children and for their commitment to bettering the lives of those 
children and, in doing so, strengthening our Nation as a whole.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, in closing I want to thank 
Representative Platts and Representative Poe for their comments 
relative to this resolution, and certainly join with them in expressing 
again tremendous appreciation for all of those in the teaching 
profession.
  As I listened to them, I couldn't help but be reminded of important 
teachers during my life. I began school in a one-room school, as a 
matter of fact, in your home State of Arkansas, where one woman, Ms. 
Beadie King, taught eight grades plus the little primer and the big 
primer all by herself. But then I was fortunate because, later on, she 
was the high school English teacher. And there are individuals who 
would suggest that I sometimes use poems and poetry and pithy words in 
expression, and practically all of that really came from Ms. Beadie 
King. She was unbelievable. As a matter of fact, she walked at least 
seven, eight miles to school every day to teach.
  There are a lot of teachers who give that kind of dedication today. 
They don't necessarily walk 7, 8 miles, but they go into their pockets 
and buy materials; they purchase clothing for their students when they 
don't have the appropriate things to wear; they purchase lunch for 
students; buy materials for their classes. They give the very best of 
everything that it is that they have.
  I don't think that we can ever express--I use the opportunity to 
express appreciation to my wife who taught for more than 30 years, 
members of my family, my sister who just retired as a principal, my 
sister-in-law who just retired. And so there are many teachers that all 
of us stand on their shoulders. Like you, Representative Platts, I know 
that had not it been for those individuals that I came into contact 
with growing up, there is no way that I would be standing here this 
evening expressing myself as a Member of the greatest body that exists 
in the world, the United States House of Representatives.
  Again, I thank all of the teachers in America and urge passage of 
this resolution.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I introduced this resolution to provide the 
Members of this body the opportunity to express our common thanks and 
appreciation for our Nation's teachers.
  Many people enter the teaching profession as a calling.
  There are other jobs with much better pay, shorter hours and, often 
times, less hassle than teaching.
  However, each year thousands of college graduates choose teaching as 
a profession, in no small part as the result of a personal experience 
they had with one of their own teachers.
  National Teacher Appreciation Week is designed to provide a means for 
students, parents and entire communities to come together and 
participate in events and activities that show their appreciation for 
teachers.
  Personally, I will be hosting an event in my district to recognize 
Alesia Hamilton, a first-grade teacher at Edison Elementary School in 
St. Joseph, Missouri who in accordance with the character and 
commitment that defines all teachers, has invited into her class as a 
student Mr. Alferd Williams, a 70-year-old man born into poverty who 
never had the opportunity to learn how to read, much less receive a 
formal education.
  Each day, Alesia Hamilton works with Mr. Williams on reading 
assignments and other tasks that will ultimately help Alferd Williams 
earn his GED.
  Mr. Speaker, what Alesia Hamilton is doing with Mr. Williams is just 
one example of what teachers do every day to improve the lives of not 
only their students but the people of our communities.
  I appreciate my colleagues for the opportunity to offer this 
resolution on the floor of the House today.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill to 
recognize the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building 
and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being.
  It is clear that we cannot improve schools or ensure student success 
without good teachers. We know that an engaged teacher can be the 
difference between kids getting ahead and falling behind. And I'm sure 
we can all remember a teacher who provided guidance or sparked interest 
in a new subject.

[[Page H2903]]

  Today's bill recognizes teachers, but they deserve more than 
recognition. We have to make sure we are taking tangible steps to 
assist them. And that means funding for our schools, high quality 
training, and fair pay. It means making sure that every teacher is 
prepared to walk into the classroom and every teacher has support 
through the school day.
  We trust our Nation's teachers with our most important task--caring 
for and educating our children. We need to honor their commitment and 
support that mission.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 1130 ``Recognizing the roles and contributions of America's 
teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and 
economic well being,'' introduced by my distinguished colleague from 
Missouri, Representative, Sam Graves. This important legislation 
illustrates a Nation's commitment to recognize the work and fortitude 
of America's teachers. It is the teacher's remarkable dedication to our 
students and their tireless efforts in support of education. These hard 
workers deserve the care, the admiration, and the benefits they have 
earned through their honorable service.
  From the beginning, our Nation has recognized the importance of 
education and has always taken a leading role in its development. 
Teachers provide an education that represents mankind's potential to 
turn distant dreams into a practical reality. The expansion of our 
horizons has been essential for reasons beyond the advances it may 
provide. An education is a symbol of upward mobility and privileged 
wisdom. It is the foundation in which we generate innovative 
technology, methods and ideas that are used for the advancement of 
society. A higher education is vital. As we progress in technology and 
other critical advancements, there is a continuing shift from blue-
collar to white-collar occupations; the number of available traditional 
jobs decline and new jobs demand greater sophistication, expertise, and 
an advanced degree.
  Teachers are the catalyst to the quality of life and the gatekeepers 
to extensive knowledge. An instructor's dedication to educating and 
conveying knowledge is significant to the foundation of America's 
present and potential strength. Horace Mann, a well-renowned politician 
and educator, articulated the goals of public schools in the 1800s; not 
only would the country provide public schools, but there would be a 
teacher hired by the locals. Education was once decentralized to the 
level of the classroom where educators believed their ``professional 
place'' was in the classrooms. Instructors viewed teaching as a true 
profession; however, before long, they were expected to solve problems 
of society. Teachers were expected to teach health, sexual education, 
D.A.R.E., driver's education and supplementary courses that were not in 
conjunction with regular academia. Teachers provide an education which 
represents mankind's capability to turn remote dreams into a sensible 
reality. Teachers play a significant role in the greatness and 
affluence of the United States. Therefore, I humbly commend teachers 
for their outstanding contributions to this great Nation and throughout 
the year for their unyielding dedication and spirit to educate.
  Mr. Speaker, we should continuously honor the teachers who have given 
their lives in service to this country. May 6, 2008 is Teacher 
Appreciation Day; this day will celebrate and recognize the valuable 
services that millions of teachers provide to the nation. Teacher 
Appreciation Day should be the crescendo of a years long's worth of 
recognition efforts. All too often, the contributions made by teachers 
to our country are forgotten. During National Teacher Appreciation 
Week, which is May 4, 2008, through May 10, 2008, the profession of 
teaching is promoted to encourage students, parents, school 
administrators, and public officials to partake in teacher appreciation 
events. It is fitting that we take time each year during Teacher 
Appreciation Week to thank our teachers--as the work they do has a 
tremendous and very direct effect on the lives of young people. As 
President Bush has said, ``There's nothing more noble than to teach.''
  The innumerable contributions of teachers are invaluable and shall 
never go unnoticed. The strategic teaching methods that teachers employ 
are ostensibly successful. Because of the exceptional work of their 
students, their involvement should never be disregarded. Teachers and 
other education staff undeniably deserve the respect of their students 
and communities for their selfless dedication to community service and 
the future of our Nation's children.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
legislation, and, in-so-doing, honoring teachers and recognizing the 
lasting contributions they make to our lives.
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. 
Res. 1130, and for our Nation's teachers. Their hard work and 
dedication to the students of this Nation is exemplary, and I commend 
them for it.
  If the United States is to remain competitive, if our economy is to 
continue to grow, our children must have access to quality education, 
specifically in the areas of science and mathematics. One of the best 
ways to stimulate the economy is through a well-rounded and well-
educated workforce. A quality education provides options for students 
to achieve the skills necessary to successfully compete in today's 
demanding job market. And our students would not be able to obtain a 
quality education were it not for the dedication of America's 
educators.
  Teachers in this Nation are over-worked, and under-appreciated. 
Teaching has never been an easy profession. The work of teachers 
extends far beyond the time spent in the classroom, preparing lessons, 
grading papers, and looking for additional ways to enhance the 
educational experience in the classroom. We in Congress have not made 
their jobs any easier. In our, albeit laudable, effort to enhance the 
performance of our students, we have placed additional requirements on 
our teachers that demand more and more of their time. Federal 
regulations place additional pressure on both teachers and students. 
Our teachers do not receive nearly enough recognition for the care and 
concern they show for their students.
  So today, I take the time to thank the many teachers who helped 
educate a restless boy that now has the honor of serving in this 
remarkable institution, the teachers who have guided my children and 
given them the skills to pursue their dreams, and also my beloved wife, 
Vicki, who has used her many talents to help teach children with 
disabilities. I urge my colleagues to show their support for America's 
teachers by voting in favor of this resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1130.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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