[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8548]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL TEACHER'S DAY

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2005

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of 
National Teacher's Day, which is taking place today. This week (May 1-
May 7) is Teacher Appreciation Week, and as we continually work to 
improve the American education system, we should take time to honor the 
hardworking, patient, passionate and understanding people who are the 
backbone of this system.
  National Teacher's Day began due to the persistence of Arkansas 
teacher Mattye Whyte who wrote to politicians and education leaders 
starting in 1944 pushing for a national day to honor teachers. Eleanor 
Roosevelt persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim such a day in 1953. 
In March 1985, the National Education Association, NEA, and the 
National Parent-Teacher Association, PTA, established Teacher 
Appreciation Week as the first full week of May, with the first Tuesday 
remaining as National Teacher's Day.
  As a former educator, I can attest to the great responsibility that 
falls on the shoulders of teachers. This responsibility is accepted 
with aplomb by energetic, passionate and caring teachers who are 
dedicated to bettering the lives of their students. Teachers are a 
guiding force in the lives of our youth, just as they were for us when 
we were children. As Dan Rather once explained, ``The dream begins with 
a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the 
next plateau. . . .''
  Children are the key to the future of the United States, and we 
entrust them to the incredible corps of teachers who give everything 
they have, each day they enter the classroom. Today, let us remember 
the teacher's who pushed us to greatness and let us show our 
appreciation for these teachers and the teacher's of today's children, 
who through their intense dedication leave lasting contributions on our 
society as a whole.

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