[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A TRIBUTE TO WAYNE PHILLIPS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the career of Wayne R. 
Phillips, an extraordinarily gifted teacher of Geography, World 
History, Government, Economics, and International Relations at the San 
Mateo and Mills High Schools located in my Congressional district. 
During the past 32 years, Wayne Phillips has demonstrated a caring, 
supportive concern for each of his students and has profoundly 
influenced the lives of over 5,000 individuals with his extensive 
knowledge and wisdom, and his innovative teaching methods.
   Even from the early days of his career, Wayne Phillips had a talent 
for creating and implementing innovative classes. For example, while at 
San Mateo High School, he helped to create and teach the Social Science 
freshman curriculum. In addition he created and taught a course titled, 
Government In Action, which required students to intern in different 
types of governmental agencies in order to acquire a first hand 
knowledge of the realities of public service. When he taught economics, 
his students participated in a San Francisco Bay Area stock market 
simulation. His instructions proved so successful that many students 
went on to win the competition. Currently, at Mills High School he 
created and is teaching a stimulating elective for Junior and Senior 
students in International Relations. In addition to his teaching 
duties, Wayne Phillips has served as the Social Science Department 
Chairman for the past 12 years, where he has helped to bring positive 
changes to the curriculum, teaching methods, and organization of Mills 
High School. For his diligent efforts, Wayne Phillips was recently 
selected as the San Mateo Union High School District's Teacher of the 
Year.
   Mr. Speaker, beyond devoting countless hours in the classroom, Wayne 
Phillips has also selflessly dedicated himself to extracurricular 
activities that have enriched the school environment, in particular 
working tirelessly to create an understanding of, and tolerance for the 
many ethnic and cultural groups on the campus. Along with other school 
and community leaders he helped to create a unique all day program to 
understand, appreciate, and celebrate cultural diversity. He was also 
the driving force behind the production of assemblies to honor Dr. 
Martin Luther King, the Chinese New Year, and the Japanese Cherry 
Blossom festival. Connected to the production of the Chinese New Year 
celebrations, students created a one hundred-foot dragon that has 
appeared in the San Francisco Chinese New Year's Parade for the past 
six years. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of participating in a very 
special event Wayne coordinated to commemorate the 50th anniversary of 
the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights, and needless to say I 
was very impressed with what I saw. For the last 24 years he served as 
the Freshman Class Advisor and assisted students with planning get-
acquainted evenings, welcome dances, homecoming parades, class 
competition activities, holiday decorations, class elections, fund 
raisers and much more.
   For Mr. Phillips, the classroom extends beyond the campus and he has 
consistently encouraged young people to participate in many types of 
educational opportunities. I am always delighted to see his students in 
Washington, DC, as part of Project Close-Up, which brings young people 
to Washington to see their government in action. His students also 
traveled to the Southern part of this country to learn first hand about 
the Civil Rights movement with the ``Sojourn to the Past'' program. As 
a long-time member of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, 
Mr. Phillips reads scholarship applications for the Council, leads 
``Great Decisions'' student discussion groups on foreign policy issues, 
and chaperones students to Council meetings, special events, and the 
annual conference on world affairs at the Asilomar in Pacific Grove, 
California. Mr. Speaker, Wayne Phillips' influence spreads even to the 
United States House of Representatives, where we have benefited from an 
outstanding Congressional Page whom only became involved in the page 
program due to Mr. Phillips' encouragement and recommendation.
   Throughout Mr. Phillips' entire career, he has been an example of 
the best in the teaching profession, earning the respect and admiration 
of students, parents, faculty, staff, administrators, and members of 
the community. It is not hyperbole to suggest that the teaching 
profession is losing one of its giants with his retirement. Every 
student learns from him and knows that he values them and is there for 
them whenever and however they need help. He truly loves his kids, and 
his crowded classroom during non-class time is but one expression of 
his students' respect and love for him. Wayne Phillips may be retiring 
from his formal classroom responsibilities, but to paraphrase the 
famous Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You'll Go, he will continue to 
learn and share knowledge, and continue his commitment to education.
   Mr. Speaker, as a former educator, I am proud to honor Wayne 
Phillips on his extraordinary career, to thank him for his 
contributions and dedication to public service, and to wish him the 
best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

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