[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   HONORING TALLULAH FALLS SCHOOL ON THE OCCASION OF ITS CENTENNIAL 
                              ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. PAUL C. BROUN

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 2009

  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. I rise today to honor the centennial 
anniversary of an outstanding institution in my district: Tallulah 
Falls School. Located in Northeast Georgia near the Chattooga River, 
this school continues to thrive after one hundred years of instilling 
impeccable values and a superb work ethic in its students.
  Though the school was formally dedicated on June 30, 1909, its first 
director, Mary Ann Lipscomb, began teaching the poor Georgia mountain 
children to read on her front porch in 1905. Quickly noticing the poor 
living conditions and a dire need for basic education, Mrs. Lipscomb 
petitioned the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs to establish a 
school at Tallulah Falls.
  Right away Tallulah Falls School was appreciated by the surrounding 
community. Not long after its creation, this school was recognized 
across the nation as a success by both the Dean of American Journalism 
and Good Housekeeping. In 1944, the original Willet Building was 
destroyed by fire. But within seven months, over $55,000 had been 
raised for reconstruction--an amazing amount considering that the Great 
Depression was just coming to an end and World War II was raging.
  In the late 1980's, the school once again gained national exposure 
when nine of its students, led by Martha Cantrell, met with President 
George H.W. Bush to receive their award for naming the space shuttle 
Endeavour. Today, this great school is still producing successful 
citizens while expanding to include both boarding students and day 
students.
  As many in Congress seek new and untested policies on education, I 
urge my colleagues to instead look to what has worked for a hundred 
years; the tried and true principles of Tallulah Falls School. We can 
learn so much from this school as we learn from its past and applaud 
its growth into the future.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud the great effort by the teachers and 
students of Tallulah Falls School and congratulate them on celebrating 
100 years of academic excellence.

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