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[Page H2800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE POWER OF EDUCATION
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Ohio (Mrs. Beatty) for 5 minutes.
Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute the tremendous work
by several Ohioans and to reflect on what the power of education has on
our young people today, as reflected by the boards.
It has been said: ``A quality education has the power to transform
societies in a single generation, provide children with the protection
they need from the hazards of poverty, labor exploitation, and disease,
and give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full
potential.''
I met with Columbus City Schools Board of Education members W. Shawna
Gibbs, Michael Cole, and Gahanna-Jefferson Public School Board
President Beryl Brown Piccolantonio. These three dedicated educators
and advocates, along with a whole host of others from across the Third
Congressional District, are working day and night to ensure every child
has the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their full
potential.
Across my whole district, whether that be Worthington, East Columbus,
Reynoldsburg, to Groveport Madison, and everywhere in between, people
respect the power of education.
Another Ohioan committed to making this goal a reality for more
students is Jamie Spero. For over a decade, Jamie has been with
Sandusky City Schools, where she currently teaches ninth grade English.
Her hard work and unique ability to connect with students and people
has made all the difference. Under her tutelage, students have achieved
an 85 percent passage rate on the State aptitude test, and in the
process, achieved the highest value-added score in the English
department 2 years in a row.
Mr. Speaker, we need more people like Jamie, Shawna, Michael, and
Beryl.
Or as Jamie recently said to me:
We need more educators to let students know daily that they
can achieve anything they can put their minds to no matter
their race, abilities, or anything negative they have been
told.
Yes, America's next generation of leaders are today's students, and
many will go on to be great teachers, doctors, first responders,
lawyers, scientists, astronauts, you name it, and, yes, even Members of
Congress.
So I was particularly honored to find out that two of my youngest
constituents were inspired by me.
Recently, Catharine dressed up as me for Worthington Evening Street
Elementary's Black History Month living wax museum.
Similarly, Jamia, a student at A-Plus Children's Academy Community
School, did a presentation on my decades-long service to central Ohio.
As part of their projects, Catharine and Jamia highlighted my career.
I am flattered, but I want them to know, and every other young person,
that being the first is great, but we need to have a second and third,
because each of us has the responsibility to mentor the next
generation.
For example, last month, students from Grace Christian School in
Blacklick, including a student, 5 years old in kindergarten, were
studying Martin Luther King's ``I Have a Dream'' speech, and 5-year-old
Leah said:
We learned what happened to people like Ruby Bridges and
Rosa Parks just wasn't right. We should treat everyone
fairly.
So I stand here today on the shoulders of heroes and sheroes who have
inspired Americans of all backgrounds for decades, even centuries, to
still do that: treat people fairly.
Mr. Speaker, whether it is the KIPP School, Bexley High School, Ohio
Media School, Columbus Africentric, or Columbus School for Girls, King
famously said: ``The function of education is to teach one to think
intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character, that
is the goal of true education.''
Thanks to all the hardworking teachers, educators, parents, mentors
past and present, students in central Ohio and far beyond are embracing
the power of education and its positive effect on the lives of so many
in our classrooms.
Let us salute these students and teachers for a job well done.
____________________