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Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart's message to all
students, even those now slogging it out in summer school, is one of
persistence and perseverance.
US Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart
In an interview with the Doral Tribune he shared his
thoughts for the coming school year:
"Kids have to realize that there is nothing more
important than education," he said. "It may seem tough and
hard at times, but the more they put into it, the better the quality
of their lives will be."
He then added, "Children are our future. And a
good education is key to securing any child's future."
Diaz-Balart emphasized that Congress has continued to make education a
top priority. Among several reforms it adopted last year was one to
allocate 25 percent of all federal education funds to enhance teacher
quality and skills and improve classroom technology and textbooks.
"Federal dollars are well spent if they are put
back into the classroom," he commented and added that,
"accountability is a fair exchange for those federal
dollars."
The Republican congressman also said that, "if
George W. Bush is elected, more reforms will be put into place."
Although most of Diaz-Balart's views mirror those of
the Bush camp, he stressed that the number one reform must be to focus
on basic academics and give assistance to teaching basic academics.
He agreed that the student/teacher ratio should not be over 25:1 no
matter where the school is located. He is keenly in favor of merit pay
for teachers and aid to the classroom.
"Test scores have to increase," he
emphasized, "and a natural way to ensure this outcome is to focus
on improving the classroom situation."
As Diaz-Balart sees it, reforms proposed by Bush will,
"close the achievement gap, set high standards, promote character
education, and ensure school safety. States will be offered freedom
from federal regulation, but will be held accountable for results.
Performance will be measured annually, and parents will be empowered
with information and choices."
The congressman felt strongly about giving parents a
choice of sending their children to a charter school versus a public
or private school. He is fully committed to the new charter schools
being established in the area, especially the Doral Academy.
"It is important for that school to come
about," he said. "I knew there were many concerns of
neighborhood groups regarding this school. I arranged for a meeting
with community leaders and the leadership of the school in my office
so they could iron out concerns they had. I tried to eliminate as many
stumbling blocks as possible. I believe it helped and it's now working
for the better."
In many of Diaz-Balart's speeches he refers to Miami
as a multi-cultural and diverse city. Indeed he himself arrived in the
United States as a four-year-old refugee fleeing Cuban communism,
along with his family.
He went to public elementary schools in South Florida
and as for learning English, he put it this way: "I had to sink
or swim. I was thrown right into the mainstream."
He feels that most "special needs children,"
as they are called--whose primary language is not English--should be
put into the mainstream as soon as possible. But the flip side of that
is that he is also concerned that there be more emphasis in today's
schools on teaching foreign languages.
Diaz Balart advocates direct federal help with college
expenses: "College should be affordable to all, and I am backing
tuition tax credits and other measures."
Throughout his years in congress he has worked as a
member of the House Rules Committee, which sets the legislative agenda
and the rules of engagement. He represents Florida's 21st
Congressional District, which includes much of western Miami-Dade
County.
The congressman encouraged constituents with any
questions or comments to contact either of his offices:
Washington D.C.
District Office
404 Cannon House
8525 NW. 53rd. Terrace
Office Building
Suite 102
Washington, D.C. 20515-0921
Miami, Florida 33166
Tel: (202) 225-4211
Tel: (305) 470-8555
Fax:(202) 225-8576
Fax: (305) 470-8575
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