[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E183-E184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TAYLOR MIDDLE SCHOOL--A MODEL OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 6, 1996

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Department of Education has 
recognized Taylor Middle School in Millbrae, CA, as a ``Blue Ribbon 
School.'' As a Blue Ribbon School, Taylor Middle School serves as a 
shining example of high-quality education for the rest of the country. 
The school is one of only 266 throughout our entire Nation and one of 
only 39 in California to be selected for this high honor.
  I invite my colleagues to join me in extending our most sincere 
admiration and congratulations for the wonderful educational 
environment that Taylor Middle School provides for our young Americans. 
I am indeed proud to have this outstanding institution in my 
congressional district.
  Taylor Middle School has achieved this high honor through its 
persistent and highly effective pursuit of local, State and national 
education goals. These goals reflect the areas in which our educational 
institutions across the country are most in need of improvement. Taylor 
Middle School's remarkable success in overcoming some of the most 
difficult problems our schools face today makes it a perfect 

[[Page E184]]
example for schools around the country to follows.
  Taylor Middle School has been highly successful in fulfilling the 
necessary conditions of effective schooling. Through the dynamic and 
productive leadership of Principal Sharon Fritz, Taylor Middle School 
has developed a nurturing teaching environment, a rigorous and engaging 
curriculum, a safe environment for students and teachers, and a healthy 
involvement of parents and the community in strengthening educational 
resources. Students from Taylor convincingly demonstrate the many 
benefits of a good schooling environment through impressive student 
performances on measures of achievement, attendance rates, and the 
varied and ambitious pursuits of graduates of the school.
  Taylor Middle School is more than deserving of the recognition it has 
and will continue to receive as a Blue Ribbon School. I hope that other 
schools across the country will be able to learn by the example of 
Taylor how to confront some of the seemingly intractable problems 
facing our educational system. I also hope that, in recognizing Taylor 
Middle School, my colleagues recognize the necessity of making 
educational excellence one of our highest priorities in the United 
States Congress.

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