[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2033-E2034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING PARAMOUNT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THEIR PEACEBUILDERS 
                                PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to an excellent 
program at work among students in the Paramount Unified School District 
in my Congressional District. It is called PeaceBuilders, and its 
mission is simple: to focus on the positive. It has been proven, both 
through academic studies and through the individual experiences of 
PeaceBuilders' participants, that a focus on positive social relations 
rather than negative, dangerous, or risky behaviors results in 
increased school attendance, improved academic performance, and 
decreased violent acts.

[[Page E2034]]

  The program centers on four basic principles: praise people; give up 
put-downs; notice hurts and right wrongs; and, seek wise people. When 
PeaceBuilders praise people, they notice and express sincere 
appreciation when someone demonstrates acts of kindness or caring, 
giving attention to positive rather than negative actions. By giving up 
put-downs, program participants recognize and avoid what has become a 
mainstay of negative interaction in our culture. They also learn non-
violent ways to respond when they are put-down. PeaceBuilders who 
notice hurts and right wrongs learn ways to make amends when they have 
caused another person pain, or merely to help another person in need. 
Finally, when they seek wise people as friends, mentors, and role 
models, PeaceBuilders surround themselves with the tools they need for 
continued success and an even brighter and more positive future.
  Mr. Speaker, with so much attention today given to the negative, I 
want to shine the spotlight on the positive. I applaud the Paramount 
Unified School District not only for adopting this program, but for 
fully embracing it. Paramount was declared the ``Outstanding 
PeaceBuilders District of the World for 1997-1998'' by Heartsprings, 
Inc., the home of PeaceBuilders. The proclamation states that they 
``have been instrumental in the design of a K through 8 model which 
will henceforth be known as the `Paramount Model.' May you continue to 
be a Model for the World to follow.'' Congratulations to paramount on 
this great accomplishment, and may you spread your positive message to 
all of our nation's schools.

                          ____________________