[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7207-S7208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RETIREMENT OF VIVIAN E. CHURCH

 Ms. MOSELEY-BRAUN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Ms. 
Vivian E. Church upon her retirement as director of the Joyner Child 
Parent Center. In her 38 years working in the public school system she 
taught generations of children about learning and life. For 1 of those 
38 years, she taught me. I am here today to thank and honor her for 
that and for all she has done.
  Ms. Church is a native Chicagoan. She attended Chicago public 
schools, received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education at 
Roosevelt College, and her masters in education degree in inner-city 
studies from Northeastern Illinois University.
  Her work in the public school system spanned many years and many 
positions. She has been a teacher, master teacher, assistant principal, 
title I consultant, parent resource teacher, and since 1988 the head 
teacher and director at the Joyner Child Parent Center.
  Vivian Church touched the lives of the children that she has taught 
and guided in her schools. She touched the lives of many other children 
through her book, ``Colors Around Me,'' which she wrote for 
kindergarten and first-grade children. This book helps minority 
children to develop a positive self-image, to develop reading as a 
personal experience.
  She is clearly an impressive woman and she should be honored for 
taking on the most important and, in many ways, the hardest job there 
is, being a

[[Page S7208]]

teacher. For me personally, I will always remember her not just as a 
teacher, but as a wonderful, warm hero.
  I started school a year early. When I was in the first grade I was 
smaller than the rest of the children. One day, when we were playing 
out on the playground the other children wouldn't throw the ball to me 
or would throw it over my head.
  Ms. Church looked out the window and saw me crying. She came outside, 
brought me inside, and sat me on her lap until my tears dried. She then 
thought up things for me to do with her for the rest of recess. 
Throughout the year I spent a lot of time working with Ms. Church at 
recess and I enjoyed myself immensely. Vivian Church went out of her 
way for me. She not only taught me, she made school fun for me.
  After I left first grade I didn't see Ms. Church again for many 
years. Then one day, when I was running for the State legislature for 
the first time, I went to a fundraising tea. Now, Ms. Church wasn't a 
political activist and I never expect to see her at a campaign event. 
Not only was she at the fundraising tea, she held the tea in her house. 
She remembered that I was her first grade pupil and she was still 
trying to smooth the way for me all these years later.
  I am honoring Ms. Church on the floor of the U.S. Senate today as my 
way of thanking her for all she has done for me and for the generations 
of children that followed. She is a hero, an inspiration, and role 
model. Thank you, Ms. Church.

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