[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 7 (Thursday, February 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            NATIONAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN PARENT INVOLVEMENT DAY

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 5, 1998

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is often said that education 
is the key to our country's future. While so many individuals give mere 
lip service to this idea, I am proud to announce that several of my 
constituents have been working hard to bring education into the 
limelight it deserves. February 9th of this year will mark the third 
annual National African-American Parent Involvement Day, a program done 
in conjunction with the Miami-Dade County School Board. This effort is 
being chaired by Earl Davis from the Office of Multicultural Education 
of Miami-Dade County Public Schools and co-chaired by Eunice Davis from 
North Davis Middle School and Carlos Seales from the Miami-Dade PTA/
PTSA Council.
  As we all know, parents in our hectic times often do not have the 
time to take an active role in the education of their children. Quite 
frequently, they do not know what their children are learning or who is 
teaching them. The ``Take Your Child to School--Visit Your Child in 
School'' program is a concerted effort by principals, teachers, and 
other educators to encourage parents to change this disturbing trend. 
Parents will come into their children's schools to meet teachers, tour 
the buildings, and learn alongside their youngsters. Employers are also 
being contacted and encouraged to give interested parents ``release 
time'' so that they are able to be with their children on this 
important day.
  I would like to personally commend my constituents who are organizing 
and participating in this vastly important program. When we 
consistently hear bad news about our nation's public schools, it is 
truly refreshing to see individual and community efforts such as these. 
I join my colleagues in South Florida in hoping that February 9th will 
initiate open communication between parents, children, and educators 
throughout the nation. Education truly is the key to the future, and it 
is programs such as this one that insure that it proceeds in the right 
direction.

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