[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 44 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    WEST VIRGINIA HUMANITIES COUNCIL

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, a greater understanding and 
appreciation of the humanities is essential to the enrichment of each 
of our lives. In West Virginia, for the past 20 years the West Virginia 
Humanities Council has done a great deal to advance the humanities in 
our State. I am proud to commend them on this important anniversary.
  The West Virginia Humanities Council is a nonprofit, private 
organization that was established in 1974 as an affiliate of the 
National Endowment for the Humanities. It originally awarded grants for 
specific public policy programs. However, in the last 20 years, the 
council has greatly expanded its services and now takes direct action 
in planning and conducting programs to enrich humanities in the State. 
In addition to the Federal grants, the council now receive over one-
third of its funding from the State government and businesses and 
individuals in the State. Its purpose has expanded to bring the 
humanities to every sector of the State's population and to reach every 
West Virginia citizen. The council also plays a large role in enriching 
the quality of education in the West Virginia public schools.
  In celebration of its anniversary, the council is beginning a new 
program, the West Virginia Circuit Writers, in which West Virginia 
writers will give presentations of their work in high schools and 
communities throughout the State. Outstanding teachers will then be 
chosen to attend a seminar where curriculum will be developed in order 
to help teachers use the local writings in the classrooms and to make 
the local works more accessible to students.
  This program is built on the council effort to promote the humanities 
among teachers and public schools in West Virginia. In past years, the 
West Virginia Humanities Council has raised over $173,000 for books for 
public school classrooms, trained teachers for great books discussions, 
developed curriculum to supplement West Virginia history teachings, and 
had numerous summer seminars to continue the education of teachers.
  The efforts of the West Virginia Humanities Council are not confined 
to the classroom alone. Other efforts include working to provide the 
opportunity for rural areas to host traveling museum exhibits, working 
as partners in the West Virginia history film project, and developing 
books that are appropriate and interesting for illiterate adults who 
are beginning to learn to read. It is even more inspiring to realize 
that the council has achieved all of these successes with a very 
limited staff and budget.
  It is with pride that I call attention to the West Virginia 
Humanities Council and the work that they have done to improve the 
lives of West Virginians. In the year of their 20th anniversary, I am 
proud to pay tribute to its many accomplishments and wish it continued 
success for the future.

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