[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 52 (Tuesday, May 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO MS. SHIRLEY SCHMITT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 2, 2000

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, today I honor Ms. Shirley Schmitt, who is 
the fifth-grade teacher at St. Jacob Elementary School. Shirley was 
named the school Recycling Coordinator of the Year, otherwise known as 
the ``Recycling Queen'' because of her creative ways of cleaning up the 
world around her.
  As a former teacher, I know that you have to be inventive to grab and 
then maintain the kid's attention. Her recycling program is much more 
than separating glass and plastic, she makes it fun. Let me share with 
you some of Shirley's ideas: using pencil shavings as mulch or using 6 
pack plastic rings along with a shish-kabob stick to make flowers.
  When you are creative in the classroom, and make projects fun, you 
dare a child to dream. That is the magic of teaching. Thank you 
Shirley.

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