Kay Granger: “as a former teacher myself and as the daughter of two teachers it is my great privilege to cosponsor this important…”

“as a former teacher myself and as the daughter of two teachers it is my great privilege to cosponsor this important resolution, and it is my great pleasure to speak out on its behalf. Someone has said that teaching is not a lost art, but regard for it is a lost tradition. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise the guardians of America's future, and those are our teachers. The issue of education generally and teachers specifically is as important as it is timely. I approach this issue from a simple philosophy. Education is a Federal concern, a State responsibility and a local function. Education is a team sport, and it requires all of us to do our part. As a Member of Congress, I believe one of the most important steps we can take to support the schools of our Nation is to encourage the teachers of our schools. I have always believed that teachers are a very special breed. While most people spend their lives building careers, most teachers spend their careers building lives. That is why it is so important that we take the time to honor our teachers as indeed they should be honored. Moreover, we need to be encouraging the very best and brightest to join the teaching profession. We can all agree that teachers do not earn the kind of money they should, but the rewards of teaching cannot be measured in dollars and cents. Teachers see the fruits of their labor in lives that have changed.…”