1352 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS January 31, 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS TEACHING VALUES make tough choices when there are gray and substance abuse, and suicide among areas or when values seem to conflict. both young people and adults; HON. TONY P. HALL Recently, many public officials have called <5> polls reflect that Americans over­ for a return to our basic values, but very little whelmingly prize values such as honesty, OF OHIO but believe that people are less honest today IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES is said about how to do this. My bill can start than in the past; the process by creating a bipartisan national Tuesday, January 31, 1989 <6> this national moral recession has im­ Commission on Values Education to examine paired the proper functioning of our system Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today I am what people are saying and what local school of democratic government; introducing, with bipartisan support, legislation districts are doing. While education should <7> leaders across a wide spectrum of polit­ to create a commission on Values Education remain a local concern, the Federal Govern­ ical, social, and religious beliefs believe that to help determine how we can better prepare ment has always played a support role, and it education for democracy must extend to people to become productive members of so­ should develop a coherent Federal policy to education in moral issues, and have called ciety. The purpose of this legislation is to ex­ stimulate local action with respect to values. for strengthening the teaching of democrat­ amine the issues associated with the teaching The Commission will report back to Congress ic values; and <8> while education remains the responsi­ of values in the schools, and to identify the and the President within a year with its recom­ bility of local and State government, the consensus of basic values that Americans mendations. Congress and Federal Government may ap­ want promoted in the schools. Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of our col­ propriately provide assistance to education­ Over the last year, I have spoken to par­ leagues, I submit the following bill: al agencies and institutions attempting to ents, teachers, school administrators, stu­ H.R. 733 include values education in their curricu­ dents, and people in different professions and Be it enacted by the Senate and House of lums. of many backgrounds who support teaching Representatives of the United States of SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT. civic values in our schools. I am convinced America in Congress assembled, There is hereby established a Commission that Americans want to promote our common SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. on Values Education, hereafter in this Act values, values like honesty, integrity, toler­ This Act may be cited as the "Commission referred to as the "Commission". ance, self-respect, and respect for others. A on Values Education Act of 1989". SEC. 5. DUTIES. set of common values were practiced by our SEC. 2. PURPOSE. The Commission shall- Founding Fathers and are at the roots of our . The purposes of this Act are- <1) consider the widest range of values for democracy. <1 > to establish a commission to examine inclusion in the consensus of values that Mr. Speaker, an estimated 3,000 hate-relat­ the issues associated with the teaching of should be taught, including traditional values in elementary, secondary, and post­ ed crimes against persons of a particular race Judea-Christian values, honesty, integrity, secondary schools, and in institutions of tolerance, self-discipline, self-respect, civil­ or religion have been documented by the higher learning; ity, importance of family, justice, equality, Center for Democratic Renewal. More than (2) to recommend to the President and to the rule of law, individual rights, the 130,000 teachers are assaulted by their stu­ Congress how the Federal Government, common good, love of country, love of dents each school year. In the last 15 years, through executive action and legislation, knowledge, responsibility and accountabil­ the rate of teen suicides has gone up by 50 can promote the teaching of values in Amer­ ity, protection of oneself and others from percent. By the end of high school 61 percent ican schools, including <but not limited to> degradation and abuse; of our students will have used drugs in some encouraging the offering of independent <2> conduct interviews, meetings, hearings, form at some time. courses on values, and the integration of and conferences in various regions and lo­ values in existing courses; calities in the United States to gather the In addition, more than 100 high level gov­ <3> to explore and assess a variety of ap­ opinions of a wide variety of individuals, in­ ernment officials have faced allegations of proaches to teaching values; cluding educators and educational adminis­ questionable activities, and business ethics <4> to identify those values supported by a trators, students, parents, philosophers and scandals are being compared to the reckless consensus of Americans as essential to a theologians, civic, religious, and professional 1920's. Our country has faced Watergate, complete education and preparation for be­ leaders, social service professionals, political Abscam, and lrangate. coming productive members of society, and leaders, persons prominent in the arts, en­ I fear that our Nation is plunging into a na­ which may be appropriately endorsed and tertainment, and sports, and concerned citi­ tional moral recession. We are raising a gen­ promoted by the Federal Government; and zens; (5) to identify the ways in which judg­ (3) report its findings and recommenda­ eration of children who have lost sight of the ments of values and of right and wrong are tions to Congress and the President not common values that help distinguish between implicated in matters of public and private later than one year after the enactment of right and wrong. A mastery over academic concern. this Act; subjects alone will not prepare the next gen­ SEC. 3. FINDINGS. <4> include in such report its recommenda­ eration with the tools necessary to carry on The Congress finds that- tions for specific legislation or executive ac­ our society's basic ethical values. <1 > many Americans no longer make deter­ tions, as well as broad policy goals and ob­ Mr. Speaker, our Founding Fathers prac­ minations of right and wrong as to their jectives; ticed values that are timeless. Our country's own actions or the actions of others, and (5) include in such report a recommenda­ past struggles and equality, justice, and toler­ this phenomenon crosses economic, social, tion as to the establishment within the Fed­ religious, and age lines, and is evident in eral Government of a clearinghouse for cur­ ance and the lessons learned should not be matters of both public and private concern; rent programs and ideas on values educa­ ignored. The 1960's and 1970's saw a move (2) institutions of education, which have tion; toward "values free" teaching in which stu­ traditionally played a role in assisting stu­ (6) include in such report a recommenda­ dents were given the options but no guidance dents to make such determinations, have ab­ tion to Congress as to the appropriateness toward answers. Now, many educators agree dicated this responsibility; of institutional changes in the House of that schools should teach civic values and <3> this abdication is evident in a national Representatives and the Senate, including take clear positions on right or wrong behav­ epidemic of incidents in which people have the establishment of a Select Committee on ior. failed to consider the ethics governing their Values Education; behavior, in governmental and political ac­ <7> seek the cooperation, advice, and as­ While family, churches, and synagogues tivities, scientific research, and business and sistance of the Department of Education should be the primary source of one's values, commerce; and such other Federal, State, and local schools should help prepare students to dis­ (4) statistics show alarming increases in agencies, and private and religious organiza­ tinguish between right and wrong, and to the incidence of teenage pregnancy, drug tions, institutions, and associations, as may e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. January 31, 1989 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 1353 be helpful in carrying out its purposes and (d) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.-The co-chairs of the Department of Energy's first proposed rule duties; the Commission shall select an executive di­ mandated by the NAECA is woefully insuffi­ <8> recognize those individuals and institu­ rector of the Commission, who shall be paid cient. tions which have demonstrated outstanding at a rate no greater than that payable for success in teaching values; and grade GS-18 of the General Schedule. On January 30, 1989, I submitted the fol­ <9> identify the potential of values educa­ <e> STAFF.-The executive director shall lowing comments to the Department of tion for reducing the incidence of such prob­ appoint such staff members as may be nec­ Energy on behalf of myself and 53 of my col­ lems as those mentioned in section 3(4) of essary to perform the work of the Commis­ leagues in the House of Representatives. this Act. sion. In allocating authorized, appropriated, Re Department of Energy's "Three Prod­ SEC. 6. MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT OF COM­ and contributed funds, priority shall be ucts Rulemaking," Docket No. CAS­ MISSION. given to those activities, such as hearings RM-87-102. <a> MEMBERSHIP.-The Commission shall and conferences, designed to elicit the DEAR Sias: This Proposed Rulemaking is be composed of 17 members as follows: broadest public participation in the Com­ the first major DOE action in response to <1> Seven members each appointed by the mission's deliberations, rather than to the the National Appliance Energy Conserva­ Speaker of the House of Representatives payment of professional staff.