[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 63 (Friday, May 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONGRATULATING JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 19, 2000

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Jefferson 
Elementary School in Bergenfield, New Jersey, on the dedication of its 
new Garden of Love, Hope and Friendship. This peaceful, serene garden 
has been created as a place of meditation and reflection intended to 
help prevent a repeat of the horrible tragedies of gun violence that 
have plagued our nation's schools in recent years.
  The focal point of the 30-by-70-foot garden is three dogwood trees, 
one each to symbolize the themes of love, hope and friendship. Azaleas 
ring the perimeter of the garden to represent each of the students 
killed in school shootings, while six rose bushes have been planted in 
memory of school faculty members who have died. Each Jefferson student 
will be involved by planting impatiens around the dogwoods. Plaques 
will be placed in memory of victims of the shootings. Gravel paths and 
wooden benches complete the setting.
  The garden could not have been created without the help of the 
community. The project was headed by a 19-member committee of parents 
and other supporters, some of them former students at Jefferson. Grimm 
Landscaping and Standish and Sons Landscaping Inc. both contributed 
material and labor.
  The garden is typical of Jefferson Elementary, an innovative and 
progressive school led by Principal Joseph Miceli. A cooperative effort 
between students, parents, faculty and administration focuses on 
connecting learning to life through activities such as Family Fun 
Night, Community Education Day, Author's Day, Celebrity Reader Day or 
Volunteer Appreciation Day. The school's mission is ``to promote a 
lifelong love of learning.''
  We face a terrible problem in our communities--the alarming number of 
children dying from gun violence. Jonesboro. Springfield. Columbine. 
These cities and schools have become symbolic of troubled children 
bringing guns to school and killing other children or teachers. Firearm 
deaths among children under age 15 are 12 times higher in the United 
States than the 25 other industrialized nations combined. Our schools 
face enough problems today without becoming a combat zone.
  We in Congress have come forth with many proposals for fighting 
school violence. I support closing the gunshow loophole, trigger locks, 
smart guns when the technology becomes available, mental health 
screening for youthful offenders and other steps. But legislation alone 
is not enough. We need more of these community-based activities, where 
teachers and other role models work with young people to change 
attitudes about violence and provide alternatives for troubled youth.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join me in congratulating the students, parents, faculty and staff of 
Jefferson Elementary School on this exemplary project. If it is 
successful in keeping only one young boy or girl from going astray, it 
will have been well worth the effort.

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