Letter to Representative Van Hollen

August 6, 2008

On behalf of the National Education Association's (NEA) 3.2 million members, we would like to express our support for the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act (H.R. 1228).

Too many of our nation's young people lack the basic knowledge required to understand the world outside our country's borders. This general lack of knowledge impedes our nation's ability to compete in the global economy of the 21st Century. Simply put, students need to learn about and understand the countries and cultures that are or could become our political and economic partners.

Your bill will help improve our children's understanding of their world both within and beyond our country's borders by authorizing federal funding to improve student achievement, increase teacher training, encourage education research, and develop effective instructional materials and strategies for geography education. We believe your bill will help prepare America's students to move forward and succeed in a rapidly-changing, competitive, global economy.

We thank you for your leadership on this important issue and look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure great public schools for every student.

Sincerely,

Diane Shust, Director of Government Relations

Randall Moody, Manager of Federal Advocacy