[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 67 (Thursday, May 25, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A SALUTE TO REDFORD HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 24, 2000

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mrs. Teresa 
Holder-Hagood and the students of Redford Senior High School in my home 
district of Detroit, MI. On Tuesday, April 25th, 2000, I was honored to 
visit with them to discuss various issues the students deemed 
important.
  The memorable opportunity was prompted by a visit from Mrs. Holder-
Hagoods' government class to my Detroit office in September of last 
year. The students were quite inquisitive, following up their visit 
with over 40 written requests to join them and address an even larger 
assembly. After personally responding to each inquiry, I arranged to 
meet with several classes of Redford students on Tuesday, April 25th, 
2000; we were joined by my former staffer Ms. Susan Watson, a ``locked-
out'' Detroit newspaper columnist, now with the Detroit Federation of 
Teachers.
  Our visit proved to be a very stimulating session, capturing the 
essential character of the Detroit secondary-school community. After I 
was introduced by Ms. Cheri Luster, a sophomore in the school's 
college-prep curriculum, I found myself fielding questions covering a 
wide array of topics ranging from racial profiling and mandatory 
minimums to voting and education reform. While the student's inquiries 
were incisive, I could not help but be struck by their outstanding 
scholastic accomplishments, including, but not limited to, two Grand 
Winners in Math and Science at the Metro-Detroit Annual Engineering 
Fair and Leading Contender at the National Competition on Robotics--
2000. At a time in our nation's history when an understanding of 
information and technological innovation is critical, these successes 
deserve acclaim.
  Morever, Redford Senior High School is currently celebrating its 80th 
Anniversary; what more wonderful way to mark the occasion than to tout 
these victories in national scholastic competitions.
  In the early 1900's, the very first teacher at Redford, Mr. Hiram 
Wilmarth, started out in a small white-frame school teaching only eight 
students. Today, Mrs. Holder-Hagood and her Redford colleagues, under 
the guidance of Principal Dr. Walter McLean, exemplify that same kind 
of solid commitment to student achievement. As senior teacher in the 
Social Studies Department and school ``Special Events Chairperson'', 
Mrs. Holder-Hagood, who has taught at Redford since 1969, utilizes the 
kind of educational tools which enrich her student's understanding of 
real world institutions in real time, through interactive experience.
  This approach to education is epitomized by the ``Close-Up'' 
educational program here in Washington, D.C., which arranges ``close-
up'' meetings with Capital Hill legislators. Several Detroit area 
schools, including Redford, have visited my Washington office through 
this wonderful program, and its benefits have been quite rewarding for 
all participants.
  From its humble beginnings in 1907 of just under 10 registrants, 
Redford High School's enrollment has mushroomed to approximately 2,500 
students from many backgrounds and cultures, and on Thursday, June 22, 
2000, Redford High School expects to graduate over 250 seniors.
  While there is still much reform needed in our nation's urban 
learning centers, stories of triumph, like those being authorized by 
Mrs. Teresa Holder-Hagood and the students, teachers, administrators 
and parents of Redford High, remind us of what true heroism really is 
and encourage us all. And so, on behalf of the U.S. House of 
Representatives, I want to wish Redford Senior High School of Detroit a 
Happy 80th Anniversary and every success in the coming years.

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