Educating Our Children
By Representative Sue Myrick
(NC-9)
September 1, 2000
Many children this past week traded in their bathing suits and lemonade
stands for school clothes and books. As my grandchildren go off to school, I am
reminded of the incredible responsibility we have to make sure all children
receive a quality education that will teach them to envision big dreams and
equip them with the resources to achieve them.
The unfortunate truth is our education system is failing too many of our
children. During a time of great prosperity, education in America continues to
stagnate, despite increased funding from Washington. You don’t have to look far
to see how these resources are being squandered.
For every federal dollar spent on elementary and secondary education, 30
cents never reaches the classroom. Instead, it is lost in a maze of Washington
red tape and bureaucracy. This not only cheats the taxpayer whose hard-earned
money is wasted, but it cheats the children. It is imperative that schools get
the money they need to address their problems. Two pieces of legislation that I
am working on will greatly help in this effort.
First I have co-sponsored legislation that will make sure that 95 cents of
every federal education dollar makes it directly to our children. If this bill
is passed, every school in America would have more money for school
modernization, building new classrooms, and hiring more teachers.
The second legislative effort that will direct more money to our schools is
fully funding the federal government’s commitment to special education. In 1975,
the federal government agreed to provide 40% of the funding for the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This program offers children with
disabilities a free and quality education tailored to their special needs.
Unfortunately, the federal government currently funds only 12% of the programs
expenses, leaving states and local school districts to make up the difference.
Renewing our promise would ease this burden and provide $55.4 million for North
Carolina. That amount would free up enough resources to hire over 1,000
teachers!
Public education is the backbone of this country and I am committed to its
success. That is why for the past five years, Congress has increased educational
funding by 50%, while increasing local authority over education decisions.
Taxpayer money must be invested in our public schools and our children, NOT used
to enrich the coffers of bureaucracy.
As a mother and a grandmother, I am convinced that it is the parents and
teachers who interact with a child everyday, who best understand what that child
needs to succeed. So, as we continue to increase educational funding, money and
decision-making power must be taken out of Washington and put back into the
hands of those who can make a real difference in the life of a child.
We have had to learn the hard way that throwing money at education and
expecting the problems to be fixed, like magic, just doesn’t cut it. It is time
that we have the courage to try something unique, use our imaginations, create
new opportunities, empower teachers and administrators to develop their own
solutions, and make sure that every parent has a choice and a role in their
child’s education.
Many children start out in life on an uneven footing. While some are blessed
with a loving home and food on the table, others are shuffled around without a
family, facing harsh realities of drugs and poverty. Education gives every child
a chance. A chance to find that one teacher who makes you believe in yourself. A
chance to find a passion, which provides a fulfilling purpose. A chance to find
encouragement from friends and teammates. A chance to discover the endearing
qualities of Huckleberry Finn, the heroism of our Founding Fathers, and the
seeming impossibilities of mathematics.
Every child deserves a chance, and it is our responsibility to make sure
that they get one.
Myrick represents North Carolina's Ninth Congressional District in the U.S.
House of Representatives. The Ninth District includes part of
Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and Gaston, Lincoln, and Cleveland Counties.
Contact: David Spooner (202) 225-0068