Speech #930227916

Mr. Speaker. I and several of my colleagues have introduced today a concurrent resolution declaring May 12 through 18 "National Migrant Education Week." This action is a first step in demonstrating congressional awareness of and concern for the special educational needs of migrant children. It is also a call for renewed efforts on the part of educators and legislators on the local. State. and national levels to meet the needs of the 2Y2 million children who follow the crops with their familiesAmericans who. despite their mobility. remain the people left behind. More tragic than the plight of adult migrants is the future of their children. Forced into the fields at an early age. migrant children are deprived of educational opportunities that would enable them to escape migrancy in later life. Because of demands of migrant life and the need to help with the harvest. migrant children become the unnoticed dropouts. condemned to repeat the poverty of their parents. Few have the opportunity to advance beyond the third grade of school. Unfortunately. our school systems are not committed to meeting the educational needs of these children. Lack of school records creates placement problems. Teaching materials are not culturally relevant or sensitive to the migrant experience. nor do they adequately deal with language differences. While Congress has begun to provide for the special educational needs of migrant children. more has to be done. especially In the area of vocational education and counseling. Programs to encourage migrants to return to high school and continue on to college. begun by OEO and transferred last year to the Department of Labor. must be expanded. Remedial vocational education programs for migrant adults should be strengthened to give displaced workers a second chance. It is my hope that Congress will not ignore its responsibility to the vast number of migrant children who have the right to an equal education in this country. I am pleased to have Representatives