[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 11404]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL TEACHER DAY

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, tomorrow is National Teacher Day, granting 
us all an opportunity--an important opportunity--to honor and thank 
some of the most dedicated public servants in our land: our teachers. 
Their tireless devotion to the education of our children is the 
greatest investment made in the future success of this country. At no 
time is this more obvious than today. I rise to express my gratitude to 
those who make a difference in young lives every day.
  My mother, who passed away 3 months ago, was a high school English 
teacher. She grew up in Georgia. She taught in Florida. She taught in 
Ohio. She always stressed the importance of an education but also 
impressed upon me and my two older brothers the importance of how we 
use that education.
  So many teachers across the country are like my mother. They impart 
knowledge while they cultivate wisdom. They teach the facts while they 
encourage the imagination. Most importantly, our teachers inspire us to 
achieve our greatest goals while providing us with the foundation we 
need to do so.
  There are over 100,000 Ohio teachers who spend each day devoted to 
the education and enrichment of our children. There is not one Senator 
here who does not owe his or her achievement in public service to a 
teacher who lit that path before us. Let's all take the time to 
remember that support for our teachers today is the surest way to 
promote a better tomorrow.

                          ____________________