"In the 21st Century, the competition for jobs and for
a stake in the world marketplace will be won by the young
people who are best educated. In Silicon Valley, perhaps more
than in any other part of the country, we must commit
ourselves to providing our students with the very best
education we can give them. They will be counted on to drive
the high-tech world further than we have ever dreamed and they
must be prepared."
- Congressman Mike Honda
PROVEN LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION.
Mike Honda spent two years with the Peace Corps building schools in
El Salvador. That experience sparked a passion for teaching and for
the educational process. After graduating with a Masters Degree in
education from SJSU, Honda taught science in Sunnyvale, worked as an
educational researcher at Stanford and served as a principal in San
Jose. In 1981, Honda was elected to San Jose Unified School Board
where he served for nine years. As a Member of the California
Assembly, Honda served on the Education Committee and helped draft
legislation to reduce class size. The California Federation of
Teachers named him Legislator of the Year in 1999. In Congress,
Honda serves on the Budget committee. Here he offered an amendment,
fighting to increase funding for education programs. Congressman
Honda was also awarded the "2002 Outstanding New Member
Award" for his strong advocacy of education funding in
Congress.
IMPROVING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS.
In order for our students to be able to compete for high-paying,
high-tech jobs, they must learn to use the most advanced computer
and internet technology. Unfortunately, too many schools do not
provide adequate access to this technology. This past term,
Congressman Mike Honda introduced the National Education Technology
(NET) Corps Act of 2001. This bill encourages high-tech companies to
support schools by working with schoolteachers and administrators to
integrate technology into classroom curriculum. It establishes a tax
credit for businesses whose employees participate as volunteers
within the NET corps.
MAKING COLLEGE AFFORDABLE.
For too many families, the dream of sending their children to
college is unattainable because to costs are too high. Honda
believes that, if a student wants to go to college, he or she ought
to have that chance. Therefore, he has supported providing tax
credits and deductions for the cost of tuition and fees for parents
sending their kids to college. Additionally, he has supported
increasing funding for Pell Grants and continued funding for the
Direct Student Loan program.
REDUCING CLASS SIZE.
As a former teacher and principal, Mike Honda has seen first-hand
the problems teachers face when trying to work in overcrowded
classrooms. More often than not, the learning process breaks down
and students get left behind. Honda was been a consistent champion
of class size reduction efforts in the California Assembly and
worked to pass legislation reducing class sizes.
