[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING TANTASQUA REGIONAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NATIONAL SERVICE-
                         LEARNING LEADER SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 18, 2000

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to recognize the achievement of Tantasqua Regional Junior 
High School. This school in my district was one of sixty-six schools to 
be named a National Service-Learning Leader School, and was honored by 
this Presidential award this past June.
  I want to congratulate Tantasqua Junior High School for being 
recognized on such a national level. Their programs concerning service-
learning have not only had a positive affect on the students of the 
school, but the community as well.
  Service-learning is a way of teaching that involves a combination of 
academics and community service, and is based on a joint effort from 
both teachers and students to improve the learning process. This style 
of education is on the rise in the United States and is increasingly 
being incorporated into both the standard and core courses taught in 
our nation's schools. This allows schools like Tantasqua Junior High to 
infuse standard courses with a sense of responsibility to community 
service, which in turn strengthens and bonds our communities by 
instilling in these teenagers a sense of commitment to giving to the 
community through volunteer work.
  Tantasqua Regional Junior High School is one of only three schools 
recognized in the State of Massachusetts and its faculty, students and 
principal, Daniel Durgin, have every right to be proud of this 
momentous achievement. The school's faculty was invited to Washington 
on June 15 for a reception attended by congressmen and congresswomen 
where they received even further training in service-learning 
techniques. These schools were acknowledged and recognized as models 
for other schools. The intent is that these selected institutions will 
lead other schools in their area towards a better education for our 
children.
  As recipients of this award, the students and faculty of Tantasqua 
Regional Junior High School should again be applauded and 
congratulated. Their efforts have produced a school of which both the 
state and country can be proud.

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