[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 71 (Thursday, June 9, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 9, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF THE SCIENCE STUDENTS OF WEST BRANCH MIDDLE 
                        SCHOOL, WEST BRANCH, IA

                                 ______


                          HON. JAMES A. LEACH

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 9, 1994

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite the House's attention 
to the outstanding achievements of the students of West Branch Middle 
School, West Branch, IA, and their extraordinary teacher, Mr. Hector 
Ibarra.
  During the 1992-93 school year, Mr. Ibarra challenged his students to 
determine how much water they could save at home and at school through 
the use of low-flow showerheads and sink aerators. The answer: A 
combined total of 40,000 gallons a week.
  This past year, all 210 students at the school participated in 
``Student Research: An Investment in the Future.'' The program was 
funded by an Iowa Science Foundation Grant in partnership with local 
utilities. In addition to the water use tests, the students measured 
the energy savings achieved through the use of fluorescent lights, 
insulation blankets and lower settings for hot water heaters, and more 
efficient refrigerators and freezers.
  In designing the program, Mr. Ibarra integrated the disciplines of 
mathematics, language arts, and social studies. They not only went out 
into the community to take their measurements, the students reported 
their findings to school district officials and community leaders.
  More importantly, this project is just the beginning; experiments 
with solar power, the setting up of a school radio station, and a 
computer internet with schools in Stavropol--Iowa's sister State in 
Russia--are all on the drawing board.
  The students' efforts earned them the Environmental Protection Agency 
District 7 1993 President's Environmental Youth Award. For his part, 
Mr. Ibarra has been widely recognized as one of America's outstanding 
teachers.
  When Mr. Ibarra and 10 of his students came to Washington earlier 
this year to accept their award, they embarked on an informal energy 
efficiency tour of the Capitol. Needless to say, the seat of our 
national government failed their test. Everyone is familiar with the 
fable about children observing that the emperor has no clothes. These 
Iowa middle school students have made it clear that the people's House 
is a kindergarten when it comes to conservation practices.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my congratulations to Hector 
Ibarra and the students of West Branch Middle School for their 
commitment to excellence in the classroom and in their community. With 
the leadership and community support they have, the sky is the limit 
for these young people.

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