[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING H.O. TANNER TEACHERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 19, 2008

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, on February 21 the Texas Delta Xi Chapter of 
the Alpha Delta Kappa International Sorority for Women Legislators will 
honor some distinguished alumni of the H.O. Tanner School in Brazoria, 
TX, who attended H.O. Tanner when it was a segregated school. Among 
those honored will be Julia Mack, who taught at H.O. Tanner after 
segregation was ended. H.O. Tanner was constructed in 1900 in order to 
ensure that Texas' segregation laws did not prevent African-American 
children from obtaining a quality education.
  Laws dictating what schools a child can and cannot attend, based 
solely on that child's race, are a shameful aspect of America's 
history. It is hard to think of a better way to celebrate Black History 
Month than by honoring those who did not allow the burden of the ``Jim 
Crow'' laws to stop them from obtaining an education, and returning to 
their community to devote their lives to teaching all students.
  It is therefore with the greatest pleasure that I join Texas Delta Xi 
Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa in honoring Geneva Barrett, Cora Mack, 
Berniece Smith, Julia Mack (who taught kindergarten at the desegregated 
Henry O. Tanner); Mary Crecy, Geneva Barrett (both of whom are being 
honored posthumously) and Mary Dickson who taught at the original Henry 
O. Tanner School, and sisters Julia and Cora Mack who attended classes 
on the desegregated H.O. Tanner Campus.

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