[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E166-E167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AN AMERICAN DREAM COME TRUE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 5, 1997

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker. One of the most important 
organizations I have had the privilege to work with is the American 
Dream Challenge, a committee of the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of 
Fall River, MA headed by Dr. Irving Fradkin, which has spread across 
the Nation and which helps young people go to college. I have been 
privileged to introduce Dr. Fradkin's work to various officials of the 
Federal Government, and I have been pleased--although not surprised--
when they have responded very favorably when they learned about it. Dr. 
Fradkin has spent considerable time recently working with elementary 
schools and the results have been as a I expected, extremely 
gratifying. I ask here that I be allowed to share with my colleagues 
examples of the response the American Dream Challenge has received from 
faculty and students in the elementary schools. I think it is useful 
for people to read the pledge of the American Dream Challenge which 
children are asked to take, and the responses to this program from two 
4th grade teachers from Fall River, and from students in the Fall River 
schools.

               The Pledge of the American Dream Challenge

       I am very pleased to accept this award, honor, and 
     scholarship.
       In accepting this award, I pledge to continue to do the 
     best that I can in school and make the most of this valuable 
     tool offered to me--my education.
       I promise to respect my teachers and classmates, giving an 
     effort to learn about and appreciate their religious and 
     ethnic backgrounds.
       I further pledge, in accepting this award, that I will not 
     be involved in any way with the use of illegal drugs.
       I will not resort to the use of weapons of any kind to 
     resolve differences with others.
       I will volunteer to perform service for my community 
     whenever possible.
       I will continue to do everything within my power to be a 
     caring and responsible citizen of my school, my community, 
     and my country--proud to be an American.
                                  ____



                                          Wm. J. Wiley School,

                                 Fall River, MA, January 13, 1997.
     Dr. Irving A. Fradkin,
     American Dream Challenge Awards Committee, Fall River, MA.
       Dear Dr. Fradkin and Members: As we enter the new year, I'm 
     extremely anxious to begin the fourth year of your 
     scholarship program. I am most delighted that your American 
     Dream Challenge has met with so much success. It was an 
     excellent idea to initiate this program at such an early age; 
     I believe that it makes a tremendous impact on the future 
     successes of so many fourth grade students of the Fall River. 
     Let me share with you just how your scholarships have 
     affected the lives of three of my students.
       Sharon was my first recipient; one could not find a 
     brighter student. However, she was often consumed by a 
     timidity that limited her abilities. When she learned that 
     she was chosen as the winner, she acquired such pride and 
     confidence that it is still with her today.
       In 1995, Natalie was chosen as a finalist and she could not 
     wait to hear the results of your essay contest. She, too, was 
     a bright student and a most imaginative writer. However, she 
     lacked a feeling of belonging because she had only come to 
     America from Ireland one year earlier. When she discovered 
     that she had been chosen as the '95 recipient, she beamed 
     with pride! She was now truly an American with a future that 
     could not be brighter. Her entire family attended the 
     ceremony.
       Finally, let me tell you about Meghan. She, too, was a 
     bright girl. However, unlike Shannon and Natalie, she was not 
     a good student. She lacked consistency, focus, and 
     confidence, but I could see a light in her that many could 
     not see. She loved to read and was full of imagination. I 
     stressed with her the importance of this essay, and how it 
     might affect her entire life. She wrote her essay with an 
     intensity that I had not previously seen. When I read her 
     composition, I could tell that she would be my next 
     recipient. She changed that day, and actually started to 
     reach her potential. She was eventually declared the winner, 
     and her attitude changed toward learning.
       In summary, I'd have to say that your program does 
     definitely make a difference, and I'm proud to be part of it. 
     One can only dream of the changes this can create in a child. 
     It just might help that child rise above the pressures of 
     drug abuse, sexual promiscuity, or even teenage pregnancy. 
     Thank you for your interest in the youth of Fall River. You 
     are making a positive impact on their lives with a difference 
     that should surely affect the future of Fall River.
           Very truly yours,
                                                     Susan Lanyon,
     4th Grade Teacher.
                                  ____


               The American Dream Challenge: A Blueprint

       The American Dream Challenge Program Committee is a 
     dynamic, dedicated group of individuals who are working for a 
     common good and unified goals. Their exceptional talents, 
     dedication, and commitment are certainly felt within our 
     educational system and our community.
       What a Herculean task this is! The American Dream Challenge 
     Group Volunteers countless hours so that positive attitudes, 
     ethics, and enthusiasm can regenerate in this depressed area 
     and can begin with our youngest elementary students.
       The concept of encouraging our students to do their very 
     best, take charge of their lives, and stay in school is 
     emphasized so magnificently by the Committee. The American

[[Page E167]]

     Dream Challenge Group awards scholarships to elementary 
     school children who are urged to put forth their best effort 
     and make a difference in their school, their neighborhood and 
     eventually give to their community.
       With the American Dream Challenge we can feel the necessity 
     for our students to strive for decency, and get back to 
     basics in their lives.
       Today we need more programs like the American Dream 
     Challenge with interested, concerned citizens volunteering 
     with our youth and building better citizens and adults for 
     tomorrow.
       Thank you Dr. Fradkin and the American Dream Challenge 
     Committee for including me and my students in a worthwhile 
     endeavor.
       Congratulations American Dream Challenge Committee and Dr. 
     Irving Fradkin on a mammoth undertaking and a commendable 
     start. The principal at C.V. Carroll School, Mr. Edward 
     Campion, pledges his support for this program and encourages 
     his staff to participate and pledge for future years.
                                                      Betsy Corey,
     4th Grade Teacher.
                                  ____


       Weaving Dreams--Fourth-Graders Tell Why To Stay in School

       Here's a sample of some of the essays written by Fall River 
     fourth grade students who won American Dream Challenge 
     scholarships in this year's program:


                       education for environment

       My education can help me make a difference by helping other 
     people. With different education, people can help in 
     different ways: for an example, you can become a doctor, you 
     can help people get well or become a policeman or woman to 
     help your community be safe. These are just a few of the 
     thousand things your education can help you do. You can help 
     the earth by becoming a scientist and study the earth and the 
     sea. By that you can help all the earth, which will help all 
     the animals that will make the earth a better place to live. 
     Or be president and make peace with other countries. The most 
     important thing is to stay in schools. Some kids think it's 
     cool to get out early, but it's not! There's always more to 
     learn. Stay in school. It's cool!!--Michelle Prevost, 
     Dominican Academy.


     helping children will make a difference in their lives, others

       In my life I want to help children who need somebody to 
     talk to. I hope I can do this because I want to be known as 
     someone who helps children. I want to prove to myself and 
     others that I can make something of myself. I am very lucky 
     to have a second chance in life, because I am adopted. I will 
     use my education to help children who are not as fortunate as 
     I am. I want to let them know there are people out there who 
     care about them. I can do this with a good college education.
       This is my dream. I want to become a children's 
     psychologist or a counselor so I can make a difference in 
     another child's life, and mine.--Anne Bryant, St. Jean 
     Baptiste School.


                    Making friends with one another

       A good education will help me become a better person by 
     making friends. In school we learn to care about one another. 
     I can make friends easy but I have to see if they have a good 
     attitude or bad one. I can just walk up and talk to a lonely 
     friend, tell them a little idea about our country and they 
     can tell a little about their country. I like to make 
     friends. I made a lot of Cambodian friends and American ones 
     too. Some of my friends make me mad and I just walk away, but 
     they will come back and say sorry. Then we become friends 
     again. I like to be friends and have the friendship last a 
     long time. I can share with them, that's an easy thing to do. 
     When I grow up I want to go to college. I hope I pass college 
     so that I can be a nurse.--Rany Say, Laurel Lake School.


     Winning spot in state House could help fight against violence

       I think that if I have a good education, that maybe I could 
     work in the state House and help to make up non-violent laws 
     to help a lot of people in the United States. If I do make it 
     to the state House as a representative, I would make strict 
     laws about guns. I would allow them to be sold only to people 
     with the proper license for them. I would not allow pocket 
     knives to be sold to anyone under 20 years of age and they 
     would have an identification card with them. With the help of 
     a really good education and a good job, I would be able to 
     help keep many citizens of the United States safe to walk the 
     streets and safe in their homes because only responsible 
     people would be carrying guns and knives. I would also make 
     more laws such as having many more police officers on the 
     street, and they would be checking for illegal weapons and 
     making sure no one was carrying weapons without a proper 
     reason or identification.
       I would also make very strict laws about people who injure 
     people with guns and knives. They would be put in jail for 
     seven years and if they did it again, they would be in jail 
     for double the time. If they killed someone, they would be in 
     jail for the rest of their lives. So if I can get a good 
     education and job in the state House, I could probably make 
     many non-violent laws so that by the time I am 57 the United 
     States will be so peaceful and safe and we might not need 
     prisons or jails. Hopefully I can make a violent-free home 
     for me and my family and friends.--Shauna Williams.

                          ____________________