[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 78 (Friday, June 16, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO CHRISTOPHER SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 16, 2006

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Christopher 
Smith, a distinguished member of the Brooklyn, New York, educational 
and civic communities. It behooves us to pay tribute to this 
outstanding leader and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing 
his impressive accomplishments.
  Mr. Smith considers that the very nature of education dictates that 
it takes place all the time, anytime and anywhere. As an educator in 
the New York City Public School System, Mr. Smith employs the concept 
of ``teachable moments'' in and out of the classroom. Mr. Smith posits 
that teachable moments are times in the life of an individual where one 
consciously learns from trial and error. He believes that learning 
through this method allows students cognition to develop critically and 
to balance multitudinous tasks tossed at them by life.
  The village it takes to raise a child is evident at Boys and Girls 
High School. Mr. Smith provides students and staff with many 
opportunities to learn how to develop, implement and evaluate programs 
and extracurricular activities. This includes the development of the 
Exemplary Mentoring Program, after-school tutoring, the Annual 
Scholarship Luncheon, the Annual Talent Show, the development of Black 
& Latino Awareness programs, the Academic Bowl, Pep rallies, Student 
Government, and other activities to increase school spirit. It is 
important to Mr. Smith that the legacy of this great institution 
continues.
  Born and raised in Bedford Stuyvesant (Gates Avenue), Christopher 
Smith is a product of the New York City Public Schools system. After 
graduating from Boys and Girls High School in 1996, he received his 
Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration at the State 
University of New York at Oswego, and received his Master's Degree in 
General Education and Special Education from Touro College in New York 
City. This summer, Mr. Smith is embarking on a path in his pursuit of 
obtaining an Educational Administration Master's Degree at the College 
of St. Rose in Albany, New York. When he successfully completes his 
Educational Administration Degree, he looks to earn his Educational 
Doctorate.
  Mr. Smith works hard to keep the Boys and Girls High School legacy 
alive in the Bedford Stuyvesant community. He knows that his children 
are definitely the ``Jewels of Bedford Stuyvesant''. Although this task 
is not easy, God has equipped him with valor to complete this stringent 
journey and he works according to the following mantra: ``It doesn't 
matter where my children come from but where I hope to help them get 
to.''
  Mr. Smith further states that when we derive pleasure from our daily 
lives, are stimulated or challenged by our work, enriched by the new 
things we learn, and by our contact with others; our lives are 
successful regardless of the specific setbacks of a particular day. 
When it is all said and done, and he recalls the day's events; he is 
satisfied in knowing that he was able to help his community.
  Mr. Speaker, Christopher Smith's selfless service has continuously 
demonstrated a level of altruistic dedication that makes him most 
worthy of our recognition today.

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