[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 63 (Monday, May 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E706]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

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                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 7, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to observe National Teacher 
Appreciation Week and to thank teachers across the nation for their 
dedication. Teachers touch the lives of so many children throughout 
their careers and have a unique role in bringing together families and 
communities to develop our Nation's most valuable resource, our 
children.
  Our former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt first introduced the idea of 
a National Teachers' Day in 1953. Mrs. Roosevelt said, ``I think, at a 
child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with 
the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity.'' Thankfully, our 
children do have such figures in their lives: the teachers who instill 
curiosity and a love of learning. I think we can all point to a teacher 
in our past who inspired imagination and a sense of discovery.
  As a former preschool teacher, I understand the difficulties teachers 
face today. With growing class sizes, shrinking budgets, and harsh 
scrutiny of standardized testing, this important profession has become 
more challenging than ever, and we must do more to reaffirm our 
commitment to educators.
  Education is the key to our economic success. The quality of our 
education system affects us as a country and as individuals who provide 
for ourselves and our families. We cannot remain competitive without an 
educated and passionate workforce, and supporting our teachers is the 
wisest investment we can make in our country's future.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to give a heartfelt thanks to the 
hardworking teachers of the 37th Congressional District and across the 
Nation. I encourage students, parents and school officials to 
participate in the events of National Teacher Appreciation Week.

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