[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SMYTHE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR CHILDREN AND OUR 
                               COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 22, 1997

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 25th 
anniversary of Smythe Elementary School. For 25 years, Smythe 
Elementary School has been a vibrant center for the San Ysidro 
community. The faculty and staff at Smythe Elementary have made a 
commitment that encompasses far more than the school day, and the 
school provides programs that address a multitude of needs of the 
students, parents, and the larger community.
  After-school programs sponsored by the U.S. Border Patrol and the 
YMCA provide children with a safe and healthy atmosphere in which they 
can do homework, improve their reading skills, and engage in fun 
activities. Now that more and more homes are headed by a single parent, 
or by two working parents, activities that keep our children safe and 
active after school are absolutely essential.
  During school hours, education is supplemented with programs like 
Read Aloud, which focuses on developing reading skills and a love for 
books; Drop Out Prevention, which starts early to keep kids from ending 
their education early; and Gifted and Talented Education [GATE], which 
harnesses the energy and dedication of young scholars.
  Health and safety programs like D.A.R.E. teach kids important lessons 
about staying away from drugs and crime. The teachers at Smythe 
understand the dangers that our children are exposed to, and they are 
working to prevent our kids from trouble before trouble starts.
  Smythe Elementary is located in an ethnically and socially diverse 
community, and the school strives to answer to the complex needs of 
this area by providing citizenship classes, English classes, parenting 
classes, and a whole host of programs aimed at increasing community 
awareness.
  Many of the programs I have mentioned today are possible because of 
funding provided by the Federal Government and, unfortunately, many of 
these programs are constantly threatened with extinction. I urge my 
fellow members to revisit the schools in their home districts and 
reacquaint yourselves with the programs they provide. Like Smythe 
Elementary, many of our schools have become very important community 
centers, and our continued support is not only necessary for the safety 
and quality education of our children. It is necessary for the 
maintenance of our communities and our way of life.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me in celebrating and 
honoring Smythe Elementary for its continued contributions to the 
community of San Ysidro.

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