[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 24 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   HONORING THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT MEXICAN AMERICAN 
      EDUCATION COMMISSION ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

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                       HON. ESTEBAN EDWARD TORRES

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 10, 1998

  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Mexican-American 
Education Commission (MAEC) for its 30 years of dedicated service to 
the students of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). On 
Friday, March 6, 1998, MAEC commemorated the 30th anniversary of the 
East Los Angeles ``Blowouts'' and the establishment of the Commission. 
At this special program, over 300 LAUSD students joined former MAEC 
directors, commissioners, and community and student leaders who 
participated in the 1968 walkouts. This program was an educational and 
historical reflection on an event that was significant to the city of 
Los Angeles and to the Mexican-American community.
  For three decades, MAEC has worked to establish inroads to equitable 
educational opportunities for Chicano/Hispanic students and to fight 
the early discriminatory practices of the educational community. Today, 
MAEC continues to voice the community's concerns and make 
recommendations to the Board of Education about programs and issues 
related to the more than 435,000 Chicano/Hispanic students who comprise 
over 70 percent of the LAUSD student population. It has accomplished 
this task through pro-active assessments of the community's needs and 
recommendations on priorities. The Commission recommends projects and 
activities to improve the effectiveness of educational programs for 
Hispanic students. It also strengthens communication between the public 
and the LAUSD. To fulfill its mission of advising, assisting, and 
making recommendations to the Board of Education, the Commission 
conducts surveys and studies, participates in LAUSD committees, meets 
with school, community, and District groups, and advises students, 
parents and community members of the District's activities.
  Dedicated to the principle of community involvement, MAEC membership 
is broad-based, and includes parents, educators, administrators, 
professionals, and civic and community leaders. The Commission has 
carried out its responsibilities through the generous support of its 
members who dedicate many hours of volunteer time and expertise to this 
worthy cause. I am proud to count myself as a current MAEC member and 
one of the 1968 Commission's original members, appointed by the Board 
of Education, the Educational Issues Coordinating Council and the Los 
Angeles Unified School District Office of Urban Affairs.
  The dedicated efforts of its original members created an institution 
that has been instrumental in educational reform for the past 30 years. 
The members of the original MAEC were: Parents--Mr. Ben Carmona, Mr. 
Armando Chavez, Mrs. Sara MacPherson, Mr. Gordon Moreno, Mr. George 
Mount, Mrs. Celia Rodriguez, Mrs. Eva Romero; Educators--Dr. Rudolph 
Acuna, Mr. Raul Arreola, Mr. Ray Ceniceros, Mr. Joseph Conway, Mr. 
Marcos De Leon, Mr. William Forbes, Mr. Oscar L. Gallego, Dr. Simon 
Gonzales, Mr. Cesar Gonzales, S.J., Dr. Kenneth Martyn, Mr. Joseph 
Maytorena, Dr. David Sanchez, Mr. Fred Sanchez, Mr. Frank Serrano, Dr. 
Frank Synder; Students--Miss Maria Baeza, Mr. Henry Gutierrez, Miss 
Rosalinda Mendez, Mr. Carlos Munoz, Mr. Monte Perez, Mr. Jesus Trevino, 
Mr. Carl Vasquez; Professionals--Mr. Manuel Aragon, Jr., Dr. Francisco 
Bravo, Mr. Ben Gurule, Rev. Vahac Mardirosian, Mr. Robert Morales, Mr. 
Richard Orozco, Mr. Joseph Ortega, Rev. Horacio Quinones, Mr. J.J. 
Rodriguez, Mr. Raul Ruiz, Mr. Esteban E. Torres.
  Present Commission members are: Parents--Mrs. Ruby Aguilar, Mr. Ben 
Carmona, Mr. Armando Chavez, Mrs. Mary Fernandez, Mrs. Kay Gurule, Mrs. 
Sara Fernandez, Mrs. Kay Gurule, Mrs. Sara MacPherson, Mr. Gordon 
Moreno, Mr. George Mount, Mrs. Monica Salinas, Mrs. Rita Zepeda; 
Educators--Mr. David Almeda, Mr. Ray Ceniceros, Mr. Al Cobos, Mr. Oscar 
Gallego, Dr. Simon Gonzales, Mr. Joe Maytoreno, Mr. Frank Serrano; 
Students--Mr. David Arellano, Miss Raquel Galan, Mr. Henry Gutierrez, 
Mr. Leonard Herrera, Mr. Carlos Ramirez; Professionals--Mr. Manuel 
Aragon, Jr., Rev. Vahac Mardirosian, Mr. Joe Ortega, Rev. Horacio 
Quinones, Mr. Esteban E. Torres.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Los 
Angeles Unified School District Mexican American Education Commission 
for its 30 years of outstanding and invaluable service to the students 
and greater Los Angeles community and for its dedication to tearing 
down barriers and ensuring that all students have equitable access to 
education.

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