[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 21 (Wednesday, March 2, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 DR. FRANKLIN SMITH'S REMARKS AT THE UNITED BLACK FUND PRESS CONFERENCE

                                 ______


                         HON. RONALD V. DELLUMS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 1994

  Mr. DELLUMS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring to the attention of 
the House of Representatives the remarks of Dr. Franklin Smith who 
spoke at the United Black Fund press conference on January 27, 1994 in 
support of the ``I Love Life and I Want to Live'' campaign and contest.
  With today's young people living with a sense of hopelessness and the 
belief that their life has no value, this program makes giant steps 
toward breaking that cycle. I am excited about supporting this endeavor 
and I call upon my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to lend 
their support to this project as well.
  Dr. Smith's remarks follow:

       I want to thank Dr. Calvin Rolark for his commitment and 
     dedication to the young people of Washington, DC. The DC 
     Public Schools System is indeed fortunate to have a partner 
     such as Dr. Rolark, who devotes tireless energy and vision to 
     helping youth overcome some of the very serious problems they 
     face on a daily basis--violence and crime, drug and alcohol 
     abuse, neglect, even death.
       The educational system with its inherent concern for the 
     welfare of children, cannot alone be expected to stem the 
     tide of violence, abuse, and neglect. As Superintendent of 
     the District of Columbia Public Schools, I have witnessed a 
     growing willingness on the part of our community to help 
     address the difficulties confronting our children.
       Dr. Rolark's ``I Love Life and I want to live'' campaign 
     and contest for our students is a perfect example of the 
     community's care and concern for our young people. This 
     campaign, and others like it, are critical for helping youth 
     understand the value not only of their lives, but also the 
     lives of their families and friends. This type of program 
     also helps to aim high and work hard to realize their dreams 
     and potential.
       Fortunately, in the DC Public Schools, we have long 
     recognized their value of outside support as a means of 
     addressing students' needs. The Parent involvement Unit 
     builds collaboration among existing parent groups and 
     reinforces their links with the school system. On a more 
     informal basis, parent partners--volunteers from all segments 
     of the community--are the mainstay of our schools.
       Their activities range from helping students with homework 
     assignments to serving as cafeteria and playground monitors 
     to working as teachers aides. They are an effective child-
     centered network that provides our students with positive 
     adult role models and contributes to their well being.
       We also are working directly with students who often feel 
     powerless against the negative activities they see around 
     them. In November 1992, we began work on a three-level plan 
     to help students solve conflicts nonviolently and to make 
     appropriate decisions when confronted with negative peer 
     pressure and other destructive influences.
       We have asked for 1.2 million in funding to implement the 
     plan, developed by the DCPS' Multicultural and Values Branch, 
     which focuses on the different needs of students. For 
     example, The first level provides role playing and other 
     activities on a constituent basis for all students to help 
     them develop leadership and personal skills. These activities 
     may occur during regular classroom or extracurricular time. 
     The second and third levels provide direct intervention with 
     students who have been displaying behavioral problems for 
     some time and have not responded well to instruction by 
     teachers and/or parents. Students receive intensive training 
     in social and academic skills away from the school. The 
     training also involves the parents. We are challenged and 
     energized by this plan's potential for success.
       These are just a few examples of our efforts to accomplish 
     positive change within our schools and for our students. And 
     our work is far from over. As Columnist and author Richard 
     Louv states, ``We can't wait for Politicians to do it.'' We 
     must all--parents, non-parents, seniors, and young people, 
     community activists and business leaders--continue to be 
     involved, to let our young people know we care about them and 
     their future. Dr. Rolark's ``I Love Life and Want To Live'' 
     campaign is certainly a major step in that direction.

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