[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2537]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPECIAL ORDER

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                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2004

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I want to celebrate Black 
History Month and the upcoming 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of 
Education.
  In 1954 the U.S. Supreme Court stated that separate is inherently 
unequal. The Court concluded, ``that in the field of public education, 
the doctrine of `separate but equal' has no place. Separate educational 
facilities are inherently unequal.'' The Court found that the evils of 
racial segregation affected students' motivation and retarded 
educational and mental development.
  Education is a right, not a privilege. The Court wrote: ``. . . it is 
doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life 
if he (or she) is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an 
opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right 
which must be made available to all on equal terms.''
  In the 11th Congressional District of Ohio, Barbara Byrd-Bennett, CEO 
of the Cleveland Municipal School District continues this legacy Brown 
v. Board of Education, championing the rights of our young people and 
working to ensure that they are afforded the best education possible. 
Six years ago, in 1998, the Cleveland Municipal School District ranked 
last among Ohio school systems, and was placed in academic emergency 
status. Under the direction of Ms. Byrd-Bennett the Cleveland Municipal 
School District now stands as one of Ohio's ``most improved school 
districts.''
  Under Ms. Byrd-Bennett's leadership academic successes are clear.
  Reading scores have increased by more than 30 percent.
  Children have breakfast and lunch at school at no cost, and over 93 
percent are immunized.
  Graduation rates have increased by 10 percent and 74 percent of last 
year's graduates went on to college.
  Suspensions are down nearly 45 percent, expulsions are down 9 percent 
and assaults on students are down 13 percent.
  Reading results were up 19 percent and 28 percent, respectively, in 
one academic year, in the 4th and 6th grades.
  Only 22 percent of 4th grade students passed the State reading test 
in 1998 compared to 59 percent passed, in 2003, an increase of 37 
percent from 5 years ago. Reading performance at the 6th grade has 
improved by 32 percent.
  I believe that education is the key to success. I am working on 
behalf of all the constituents of the 11th Congressional District in 
Ohio to make sure that public education remains the number one issue in 
America. I want for those who have a desire to go to college to be 
prepared and equipped with the tools necessary for success.
  While highlighting successes and recognizing achievements, we must 
also focus on current realities to further aid us in shaping national 
education priorities. According to the National Education Association:
  Poor and minority children risk doing poorly in school. Contributing 
factors include: rigorous curriculum, teacher preparation/experience/
attendance, class size, technology-assisted instruction, school safety, 
parent participation, student mobility, birth weight, lead poisoning, 
and nutrition.
  In 1994, 31 percent of black, 24 percent of Hispanic, and 35 percent 
of American Indian high school graduates took remedial courses, 
compared to 15 percent of whites and Asians.
  Few minorities have access to or are enrolled in Advanced Placement 
courses.
  Student achievement gap still wide.
  Only 5 percent of African American 4th grade students and 4 percent 
of 8th grade students met national proficiency standards in 1996.
  In addition, under the Bush budget $9.4 billion less for education 
than was promised in the No Child Left Behind Act; this means that 2.4 
million children will not get the help with reading and math they were 
promised. Under the Bush budget 56,000 teachers won't get training and 
1.3 million children won't get the after school programs they were 
promised.
  According to the National Education Association, the budget 
eliminates funds for 38 pro- grams, including dropout prevention and 
gifted and talented education, and once again fails to increase Pell 
Grants for our nation's poorest college students. Yet, incredibly, the 
President wants $50 million for a national experiment with school 
vouchers, which take away much needed resources from public schools, 
and trillions more in tax cuts continue to flow to the wealthy.
  We have come a long way; however, we still have a long way to go.
  Today I rise to celebrate the anniversary of Brown v. Board of 
Education. I am proud to be an American. I salute African Americans 
like Barbara Byrd-Bennett who believed in the fight for justice, 
believed in their dreams for equality and continue to pave the way for 
a better tomorrow.

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