Thanking Our Teachers May 2-8--Teacher Appreciation Week

THANKING OUR TEACHERS MAY 2-8--TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 06, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. DANNY K. DAVIS
OF ILLINOIS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2004

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, Albert Einstein once said that "It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge". I rise today to thank our Nation's teachers for their exceptional work, compassion and dedication to our children everyday. Although May 4th was National Teacher's Day, this entire week, May 2-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week.

I think everyone can think back and remember that one teacher that touched their lives-whether it was the one that taught you to read, gave you the confidence to learn more, made you feel smart and knowledgeable or was the one solid, caring adult in a child's life. The origins of Teacher Day are not too defined. Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day. It wasn't until March 1985, when National Education Association (NEA) and the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May with the first Tuesday remaining as National Teacher's Day.

Teachers are true heroes in our communities, who through their dedication to children work millions of small miracles every day. Henry Brooks Adams, a historian and grandson of President John Quincy Adams once said that "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." We must never forget to thank our teachers for their service to our society and for creating a better, smarter and hopefully kinder future generation.

END