Speech #870246658

Oregon. and Pennsylvania provide financial assistance to school districts for the operation of summer schools. Many local school districts are still faced with the problems of providing school housing. textbooks. instructional materials. and avoiding overcrowded classrooms and halfday sessions. The lack of educational opportunities for migrant children has many social and economic implications which should be the concern of all local. State. and Federal agencies of our Government. as well as the concern of every American citizen. Reports indicate that the quality and quantity of schooling received by these children is far below the national standards as compared to that received by other children. This condition is a serious indictment against our society and our national program of education In America. Because migrant parents have very little. if any. education. they very often do not understand the importance of an education for their children. Because their wages are insufficient to provide the bare necessities of life for themselves and their children. they need the income of their children to help sustain the family. They fail to understand the educational requirements needed in our modern society. Many migrants do not make any effort to enroll their children In school. They have very little knowledge of health. welfare. safety. nutrition. and citizenship. Studies have shown that parents who have attended school have a greater tendency to want their children to receive an education. If there ever was a cause or a reason for Federal funds for education. it is for a program of education of children of agricultural migrant workers. The problem of agricultural migratory workers is interstate in nature. involving the transportation of human beings across State boundary lines to live and work in other communities. The principle of State and Federal support Is reasonable and just when one school district must provide educational facilities for children from other school districts and States. The money which will be made available under Senate bill 1124 would enable States to obtain muchneeded information about migrants which could be shared by other States as a basis for planning better school programs. The Senate bill would provide Federal assistance. as follows: Title IPayments to State educational agencies to help defray the cost of educating migratory children during the regular school session. Title IIGrants of $300.000 annually for each of 5 years to State educational agencies or institutions of higher learning for summer schools for migratory children.