Date: 1996-09-18
Speaker: GENE GREEN (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. Senator Dole. at the Republican National. Convention. blamed teachers for the failure of our educational system. Senator Dole attacked teachers and particularly teacher unions and associations. I stand today to note that Senator floles logic disturbs me. Teachers in our schools are now required to do much more with much less. and they do not deserve this kind of treatment. Many resent this attack. because they work hard. day and night. to prepare our children for the future. In last Saturdays edition of the Houston Chronicle there were several letters from teachers responding to Senator Doles comments. and I want to read some of their remarks. Senator Dole was talking about unions or associations. and you cannot attack an association without attacking the members. The members. again. are the ones who are providing that opportunity for our children to be citizens. educated citizens for our tomorrow. JoNell Parker of Humble. TX. wrote. "In referring to public funding of private schools. Bob Dole said in his acceptance speech before the Nation on August 15th. There is no reason why thosewho live on any street in America should not have the same right as the person who lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. the right to send their child to the school of your choice. As a teacher and a member of the teachers association whom Dole attacked. I have to admit I agree with the right to choose. I just dont believe I should have to pay for his choice. Public support of religious indoctrination is unconstitutional. Taking tax money from public schools and giving it to private. forpr6fit institutions is financially unsound and elitist at best." In a letter to the editor that same day. Judy Hoya of Houston. TX. said. "Bob Doles attack on teachers unions in his acceptance speech tried to place the blame for the problems facing our schools on the people who are trying to solve them." and I will repeat. he is placing "the blame for the problems on the people trying to solve them" when you attack the classroom teachers. "Bob Dole is out of touch with the educational mainstream. He would be far wiser to join with the 80 percent of the teachers who are In the unions to help solve problems in our schools." Martha Barrett of Kingwood. TX. remarked. "What a way to launch a Presidential campaign. attack teachers and kids in American schools. Bob Dole said in his acceptance speech that Teachers unions nominated Bill Clinton in 1992. They are funding his reelection campaign now and they. his most reliable supporters. know he will maintain the status quo." Ms. Barrett of. Kingwood continued. "I dont speak for all teachers. but I personally feel much better about a Presidential candidate supported and funded by teachers then one supported by tobacco interest." Finally. Sherry Mutula of the Pasadena Education Association stated in Pasadena. TX. "I would like to set Bob Dole straight on the errors in his acceptance speech. Attacking Americas schools and teachers. he said. Not for nothing are we the biggest educational spenders and among the lowest educational achievers of the leading industrial nations." He was wrong according to Ms. Mutula. "America does not lead the industrial nations in education spending for K12 public education. We are not even close. Of the top 17. America ranks 12th. "The American people have been named the most productive workers in the world. Know where 90 percent of those workers were educated. Bob Dole? In the public schools of America." The 21st century will bring new challenges for our young people. and we have an obligation to educate them to September 18. .1996 deal with these challenges. Democrats believe that education is the key to our childrens future and the key to our countrys continued success. Under this Republican Congress. however. education has not fared well. In 1995. Senator Dole supported the largest outs in Federal education funding in the history of our Nation. and the assault continues. Instead of considering further education outs. we should be involved in debating Increasing Federal commitment to our childrens education. Most of education is paid for at the local and State level. but as a Nation we have to be competitive with the world. It is time to stop blaming teachers for our educational problems and start blaming those who have consistently opposed funding for education. We will be judged by how we treat and educate our children. Senator Dole. who has a poor record on education. should be judged appropriately on November 6.