[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H8696-H8697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO DR. EDNA P. DAVIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me tell my colleagues a 
story and why I love and respect what public school education can do 
for all of us.
  Today I stand in tribute to Dr. Edna P. Davis. Some would wonder, is 
she a famous actress or has she dunked a shot on the basketball court? 
No; Dr. Edna P. Davis is a public school teacher who has taught for 47 
years. She lives in Houston, TX. I had the pleasure of joining her 
colleagues and her church members at Williams Temple just a few short 
weeks ago in honoring this soldier on the battlefield of education.
  Dr. Edna P. Davis is an educator, a humanitarian, and a scholar. I am 
moved by her words regarding all children when she says, ``Every boy 
and girl, irrespective of race, ethnic group, or color, or below par in 
physical condition, should be taught to achieve and aspire to high 
ambitions of their capacity.''
  She loved education and religion so much that I would like to note, 
for the Record, she wrote ``The Education and Religious Life of Dr. 
Edna P. Davis.'' No, this is not a self-study to promote herself but 
her virtues and values and pearls of wisdom, for Dr. Davis is a lover 
of the written word and the spoken word.

  And as we listen to the testimony of her students and her friends and 
colleagues, they said that she was able to instill in her children and 
her pupils the love of the English word, the love of the ability to 
communicate. Her commitment to God's work and others is most 
appreciated by those who know her best. She is a model of good 
Christian conduct and academic excellence.
  Dr. Davis believes that teachers should be dedicated, teachers should 
love children. She taught in a public school system. And Dr. Davis' 
contribution to education, she has taught from kindergarten through the 
12th grade.
  I am privileged to know one of her students, Dr. Elwin Lee, my 
husband, who was able to be under her tutelage at Blackshear Elementary 
School. The children she has taught have scored high on their tests. 
She never took ``no'' for an answer. There was no child who could not 
succeed or take these standardized tests. She has always been punctual, 
and we could count readily on her attendance record as almost perfect.
  The in-depth analysis of Dr. Davis' education and her numerous 
accomplishments as an educator, her work in the church, and her 
volunteer work in education with children and extending charitable 
contribution to Riverside Hospital have made her a legendary figure in 
our community.
  My colleagues would have been amazed at the numbers of individuals 
who came from far and wide to pay tribute, the representatives from the 
Houston Independent School District, classroom colleagues, school 
chums, next-door neighbors, and, most of all, her students, those who 
work at NASA, those who are law enforcement officers, those who are 
doctors, those who are individuals who benefited from her teachings.
  At an early age, Dr. Davis was trained in the Christian concept of 
the golden rule. How many of us would benefit from understanding that 
we really should do unto others as we would want them to do unto us? 
And her training came from her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jefferson 
Davis.
  Growing up in Third Ward in Houston, TX, she noticed early the 
challenge for a black teenage girl from Douglas Elementary School. She 
went to Jack Yates High School, which was then on Elgin Street. She 
studied hard. And at graduation time, she was designated class 
valedictorian. She was noted as a quiet young woman but a studious 
young woman, again, someone who loved to understand and learn.
  Upon leaving Jack Yates High School, she enrolled at Texas Southern 
University. At Texas Southern, she pursued her mission as a teacher in 
the School of Education. She graduated from TSU in 1953, receiving the 
B.A. and B.S. degree with the highest honors. Summa Cum Laude was 
bestowed on her for her diligent study.
  Seeking intensively to learn as much as she could, Dr. Davis in 1960 
received an M.A. in English and history with the same distinction.
  Her further study leading to doctorate was centered at Texas Southern 
University, University of Houston, and New York University. Determined 
to get her doctorate, she enrolled at Albany State College, away from 
Texas. From 1974-77, she received the ED.D., the highest degree in the 
field of education.
  Her teaching career began in 1953, when she taught at Booker T. 
Washington Junior High School under Principal Bryant and Principal J.R. 
Cunningham at Blackshear Elementary in 1954. For the past 25 years, she 
has taught at Blackshear Elementary School under Principal George 
Mundine.
  Let me say, Mr. Speaker, that I am delighted to be able to rise today 
and pay tribute to truly a great American and American teacher, someone 
who loves children, loves the ability to teach children, and believes 
that all of our children, no matter who, can learn, truly learn. She is 
a wonderful American and a wonderful teacher.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer words of gratitude and recognition for 
the wonderful work done by Dr. Edna P. Davis, educator, humanitarian 
and scholar.
  I am moved by her words regarding all children when she said:

       * * * every boy and girl, irrespective of race, ethnic 
     group or color or of a below par in physical conditions, 
     should be taught to achieve and aspire to high ambitions of 
     their capacity.

  Her commitment to God's work and others is most appreciated by those 
who know her best. She is a model of good Christian conduct and 
academic excellence.
  Dr. Davis believes that teachers should be dedicated. Teachers should 
love children. In Dr. Davis' contribution to education, she has taught 
from kindergarten through the twelfth grade. The children she has 
taught have

[[Page H8697]]

scored high on their tests. She has always been punctual and we can 
count readily her attendance record as almost perfect.
  The in-depth analysis of Dr. Davis' education and her numerous 
accomplishments as an educator, her work in the church and her 
volunteer work in education with children and extending charitable 
contributions to Riverside Hospital has made her a legendary character.
  In an early age, Dr. Davis was trained in the Christian concepts of 
the ``Golden Rule.'' Such training came from her parents, Mr. and Mrs. 
Thomas Jefferson Davis.
  Growing up in the Third Ward, she noticed early the challenge for a 
black teenage girl from Douglas Elementary School; she went to Jack 
Yates High School, which was then on Elgin Street. She studied so hard 
and at graduation time she was designated class valedictorian.
  Upon leaving Jack Yates High School, she enrolled at Texas Southern 
University. At TSU she pursued her mission as a teacher in the School 
of Education. She graduated from TSU in 1953 receiving the B.A. and 
B.S. degrees with the highest honors. Summa Cum Laude was bestowed on 
her for such diligent study. Seeking to learn as much as she could, Dr. 
Davis in 1960, received a M.A. in English and History with the same 
distinction.
  Her further study leading to doctorate was centered at Texas Southern 
University, University of Houston, and New York University. Determined 
to get her doctorate, she enrolled at Albany State College, from 1974-
77, and she received the E.D.D., the highest degree in the field of 
education.
  Her teaching career began in 1953, when she taught at Booker T. 
Washington, Junior High School under principal Bryant and principal 
J.R. Cunningham at Blackshear Elementary in 1954. For the past 25 
years, she taught at Blackshear Elementary School under principal 
George Mundine.
  I am pleased to join Dr. Edna Davis' family, friends, and colleagues 
in congratulating her on her life's accomplishments in education. Dr. 
Davis your monumental effort has given the gift of knowledge to your 
students who have become valued members of our society. Your commitment 
to excellence in education provided many of our children with the good 
news that studious pursuits, hard work, determination and perseverance 
will lead to success in life. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks 
for your commitment, without which, your students would not have the 
promise of an unlimited future. Your gift of knowledge to the Houston 
community will not be forgotten.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in recognition 
of a wonderful teacher, Dr. Edna P. Davis.

                          ____________________