R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, For 50 years, the Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf
1-2 Children has been helping deaf and hearing-impaired children learn
1-3 to communicate more effectively; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Founded in 1947 by Dela White, Sunshine Cottage
1-5 began with seven students and one teacher and was originally housed
1-6 in a small caretaker's cottage near San Antonio's Trinity
1-7 University; Mrs. White started the fledgling school in response to
1-8 her daughter Tuleta's hearing impairment, determined that she would
1-9 one day hear her daughter speak; and
1-10 WHEREAS, The Junior League of San Antonio provided the first
1-11 funding for the school, a $1,500 donation for the first three years
1-12 of operation; other early donations included playground equipment,
1-13 hearing aids, and several cans of bright yellow paint that was soon
1-14 applied to the cottage, prompting the christening of the school as
1-15 "The Sunshine Cottage"; and
1-16 WHEREAS, Two years later, after demonstrating the tremendous
1-17 progress made by the school's students, Mrs. White petitioned local
1-18 benefactors and raised $160,000, which was used to finance the
1-19 construction of a new building; the school, which is open to all
1-20 children, regardless of their ability to pay, continues to rely on
1-21 the generosity of the local citizenry and to this day has operated
1-22 without receiving any government funding; and
1-23 WHEREAS, This is not the only unique trait of the Sunshine
1-24 Cottage; rather than teaching sign language, the school's teachers
2-1 prefer to develop what hearing the students possess and to teach
2-2 them to speak, enhancing their skills with intensive lip-reading
2-3 training; another unusual feature that has recently been
2-4 incorporated into the program is the integration of hearing
2-5 students, as it has been realized that children learn language
2-6 better through their peers; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Mrs. White's dedication and enthusiasm are truly
2-8 remarkable, and after 50 years she shows no signs of reducing her
2-9 involvement in the day-to-day operations of the school; as the
2-10 Sunshine Cottage's international reputation grows, this remarkable
2-11 woman can take great satisfaction in the knowledge that the school
2-12 continues to lead the way in providing a successful, alternative
2-13 educational environment for deaf and hearing-impaired children;
2-14 now, therefore, be it
2-15 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-16 Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Sunshine
2-17 Cottage School for Deaf Children and extend sincere thanks to Dela
2-18 White for her many years of service to this fine institution; and,
2-19 be it further
2-20 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-21 prepared for Dela White and the Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf
2-22 Children as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House of
2-23 Representatives.
Puente
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 241 was adopted by the House on
February 27, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House