[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 88 (Tuesday, July 11, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE AMERICAN DREAM CHALLENGE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 11, 2000

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, from time to time I have 
expressed here my great admiration for the American Dream Challenge, a 
very creative effort to help raise funds for young people to pay for 
college. This program was originated by Dr. Irving Fradkin of Fall 
River, Massachusetts, and he continues after many years of hard work to 
be a dedicated parent to this program. Long before it became 
fashionable, Dr. Fradkin understood the importance of trying to make 
sure that every young person had the financial means to pursue a 
college education, and he is justly and widely respected in the Greater 
Fall River community for this commitment. Dr. Fradkin understands that 
it is important to instill the desire for higher education early, and 
so his program begins with students in the fourth grade, and works at 
various points throughout their education in this regard.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit two articles which testify to the power of Dr. 
Fradkin's ideas and of his work to be printed here, so that other 
communities may benefit from knowing of this example and, I hope, 
emulate it.
  The first document is a letter from Susan Lanyon who teaches fourth 
grade at the Wiley School. The second is an excellent article from the 
Durfee Hilltop, by Renee Tessier. The Durfee Hilltop is the newspaper 
of Durfee High School, the public high school in Fall River.

                 American Dream Challenge Is Inspiring

   (By Susan Lanyon, fourth-grade teacher, Wiley School, Fall River)

       Twenty-seven years ago I had three reasons for entering the 
     teaching profession: I loved learning and longed to share 
     that joy, I had a deep love for children, and I wanted to 
     make a difference in the lives of young people.
       I still feel the same way today, but now there's a program 
     that helps me to make that difference. It started in 1994 and 
     it's called the American Dream Challenge.
       Thanks to Dr. Irving Fradkin, I now have the pleasure of 
     including this scholarship program in my fourth-grade agenda. 
     I have learned that its benefits are immeasurable; it not 
     only affects the scholarship winners, it also has an effect 
     on every child, as together we take a special moment to share 
     deep thoughts about the future benefits of a sound education.
       I have become deeply aware that 9 and 10-year-olds do have 
     high hopes and dreams that are worthy and sincere. This has 
     become one of my many regards of teaching, the joy of 
     listening to their ideas
       The American Dream Challenge begins when I take a minute to 
     share my thoughts with my students about how special my 
     college education is to me. They catch my enthusiasm and the 
     dreams begin!
       Then Dr. Fradkin and the Rev. Robert Lawrence, another true 
     friend of education, often make a visit, and speak further 
     with them, telling these precious fourth-graders exactly how 
     special they are.
       They also convince them that they can become anything their 
     hearts desire with only two things needed--the right attitude 
     and a proper education.
       Their eyes light up, and the seeds are planted!
       Next, we return to our writing class and brainstorm as a 
     team. Now we have to decide exactly what is meant by titles 
     such as these: ``Education--Key to My Future,'' or ``How My 
     Education can Help Me Become a Better American Citizen.'' 
     ``The ideas flow!
       Let me share with you just a few of the thoughts that have 
     developed:
       ``I can learn more about other cultures so I can learn to 
     respect others better.''
       ``I can discover cures for diseases that have taken away 
     those that I love.''
       ``I can learn more about how to resolve conflicts in a 
     peaceful way.''
       ``I can become a teacher so I can teach others to learn the 
     importance of being educated.''
       As you can see, there are no losers in this essay contest. 
     The writing alone of this essay produces thoughts never 
     shared before.
       The next step is the judging--a difficult task.
       My principal and I choose and submit the three best essays 
     and the three finalists anxiously await the results. In 
     April, the winner is declared. The culmination is an awards 
     ceremony in May, where at least 50 delighted students and 
     their families arrive in their Sunday best, glowing in the 
     aura of success.
       These children will never be the same after this day! They 
     have become special young ladies and gentlemen, filled with 
     hope and promise.
       I have now had six scholarship winners and I only wish you 
     could see what this award has done for each of them.
       I have seen shyness replaced by confidence, academic 
     potential replaced by academic success, and apathy replaced 
     by a desire to learn.
       Of course there have also been the students that were 
     already on the right path, who now have an incentive to 
     remain there.
       An added gift is the endless support given the recipients 
     from their schools, families, friends and community leaders. 
     There's nothing more beneficial to a child than knowing that 
     people are proud of them. It is so true that it ``takes a 
     village'' to properly raise a child.
       A Wall of Fame now exists in my classroom. It lists the 
     names of all my American Dream Challenge Scholarship winners. 
     These students serve as role models to my present students, 
     thus continuing the cycle of hopes and dreams for all.
       Who would have believed that children so young could dream 
     such dreams?
       I can assure you that they do, and they need us to help 
     make them come true.
                                  ____


                [From the Durfee Hilltop, Apr. 2, 2000]

           Fourth Graders Win the American Dream Scholarship

                           (By Renee Tessier)

       ``Children are the future; teach them well and let them 
     lead the way.'' A line from a popular song in the 80's, and 
     also a good summary of the message sent by Dr. Irving Fradkin 
     at the ceremony last Sunday held for the 7th annual American 
     Dream Challenge awards.
       Students in the fourth grade from the Fall River Public, 
     Catholic, and Charter schools attended an awards ceremony on 
     Sunday, April 2nd to receive a scholarship certificate and 
     congratulations for a job well done. These students, who are 
     only 9 and 10 years old, were challenged with the task of 
     writing a one page essay on ``Why I'm going to be a better 
     American because of my education.'' Each class of fourth 
     graders sent three or four essays chosen by their teacher to 
     be entered into the contest. Then, one essay from each class 
     was picked by a panel of judges. Each student received a $100 
     scholarship which will be issued after high school graduation 
     and can only be redeemed for the purposes of a higher 
     education. They can also expand their scholarship by entering 
     the American Dream Challenge Essay Contest again in the 6th, 
     8th, and 10th grades. If all contests are won, a student can 
     earn up to $1,000.
       The kids also helped in recognizing their teachers for 
     their help. Proclaimed as ``Unsung Heroes,'' Dr. Fradkin and 
     Senator Joan Menard congratulated teachers and principals for 
     helping in the up bringing of such fine young people, and 
     thanked them for their commitment to the students. Dr. 
     Fradkin is quoted as saying, ``Without teachers, we wouldn't 
     have a successful country.''
       To further emphasize the importance of education, adult 
     sponsors who made a difference in the Fall River area wrote 
     essays of their own.
       They wrote on the subject of their own lives and how 
     education made them what they are today. Senator Menard, 
     Mayor Lambert, and Reverend Lawrence were just a few of the 
     participating sponsors.
       Every student was set up with a sponsor and they traded 
     essays.
       The hope was that not only would the student learn from the 
     adult, but that the adult would also learn from the student.
       The students were also able to hear the point of view of 
     Dr. Odete Amarelo, a co-chair person for the contest, and Dr. 
     Peter Gibbons of Harvard University.
       Dr. Amarelo compared a child's negative point of view to a 
     pair of ``wrong prescription'' glasses.
       She explained that sometimes kids look at things in a 
     negative way and don't see the whole picture. They need to 
     learn to believe in themselves. ``All you need is to find the 
     right lenses.''
       Dr. Gibbons, who was inspired by Fall River to write a book 
     about local heroes, explained the importance of having heroes 
     and teachers.
       Someone to look up to is something every child needs. 
     ``Everyone needs a coach, a teacher, a hero.''
       Leaving with knowledge that ``they can do anything in this 
     world'' given to them by Senator Menard, the kids look like 
     they are well on their way to bright futures.
       Hopefully they will continue their education as far as they 
     are allowed and were inspired by the people that worked so 
     hard for their benefit.
       The ``Scholarship City'' is the birthplace of a phenomenon: 
     mentors and students coming together to improve education 
     around the country.
       The influence of these inspired people giving back to the 
     community is just the start of a new wave of greatness that 
     will in turn create a better future for us all.

     

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