[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7105]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING K-12 EDUCATORS

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                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2010

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the 10,000 
school teachers in Southern Arizona, and for K-12 teachers across the 
Nation. I am honored to stand up here today, during National Teacher 
Appreciation Week, to recognize how tirelessly these men and women work 
to educate all of our children.
  We have an organization in Southern Arizona that works every day to 
remind everyone of just how much K-12 teachers contribute to the 
economic and societal well-being of all of our communities. Tucson 
Values Teachers is not quite 2 years old, but it has made great strides 
in getting the word out about the value of teachers. And more than 
that, the organization has been working very hard to ease the economic 
burden so many of our teachers face in trying to raise families on 
salaries that are too small.
  During this week, we all need to stop and think about how much more 
we need to do to support our K-12 teachers. More than 50% of all 
beginning teachers leave the profession within the first five years. 
Salary is one part of the problem, but the lack of support, mentoring 
and adequate classroom supplies and assistance are also critical 
factors.
  It is time for our Nation to elevate the teaching profession to new 
levels of respect and remuneration. Teachers literally hold our future 
in their hands--they are the ones who, every day, stand in front of our 
children, working hard to instill in each one of them the knowledge, 
curiosity and commitment to community that they will need to become our 
future leaders.
  Let's get behind our teachers--let's follow the lead of Tucson Values 
Teachers. Let's all work together toward an America that Values 
Teachers. When teachers are paid and revered as much as our top 
athletes, we will live in a nation that leads all others in innovation, 
creativity and achievement.

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