[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 70 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     AWARD FOR SOUTH TEXAS SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 21, 2001

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to three schools 
in South Texas which are beating the odds in today's public education 
system by harnessing the strength and awareness of the student 
population.
  At a time when our resources are terribly over-burdened, the 
following South Texas schools are being recognized by the ``Set A Good 
Example'' competition sponsored by the Concerned Businessmen of 
America: Landrum Elementary in San Benito (2nd place nationally), 
Harlingen High School (2nd place nationally), and Rio Hondo Elementary 
(top ten honors).
  These awards, launched in 1982, recognize schools which have student-
oriented programs to influence their peers in a positive way by 
emphasizing the simple human moral values such as honesty, 
trustworthiness, responsibility, competence and fairness.
  The Concerned Businessmen of America is a not-for-profit charitable 
educational organization which offers successful business strategies 
and programs to combat social ills and problems that face young people.
  At a time when parents and community leaders are watching our young 
people with new eyes, wondering what is going on inside their minds and 
what motivates them, this recognition is concrete proof that the South 
Texas community is paying attention to our young people.
  Educators, counselors, parents, business people, and most 
importantly, students themselves, are working together to ward off the 
problems that have plagued other schools and other young people. The 
winning ingredient here is the active involvement of the students; the 
best messenger for young people is other young people.
  We have enormous challenges before us in education and with regard to 
the public policy in our public schools. There will never be one single 
answer to preparing young people to withstand the complex social issues 
that our children encounter each day. But the best way to prepare our 
children to deal with the society in which we live is to teach them, 
from very early on, simple moral guidelines to apply to their lives. 
The ``Set a Good Example'' program follows up as encouragement and 
reinforcement to these lessons.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in commending Landrum Elementary in 
San Benito, Harlingen High School, and Rio Hondo Elementary for their 
efforts to be part of a solution, which is the first step to solving 
the problem. I thank the young people in these schools for leading the 
way to better grades and healthier attitudes.

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