[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 108 (Thursday, June 29, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1364-E1365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIC EDUCATION

                                 ______


                           HON. HENRY J. HYDE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 1995
  Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, In a declaration issued on June 7 in Prague, 
participants at the CIVITAS PRAGUE 1995 conference pledged to create an 
international network to help make civic education a higher priority on 
the agendas of participating nations as well as on the international 
agenda.
  The conference was one of the largest international gatherings of 
educators and representatives of the public and private sectors 
supporting civic education ever held. Four hundred twenty-five 
representatives from 52 nations participated. The conference was 
sponsored by 36 civic education organizations from North America, 
Eastern and Western Europe, and the former Soviet Union.
  The declaration by CIVITAS participants asserts that civic education 
is essential for developing the support required for the establishment 
and maintenance of stable democratic institutions, economic 
development, national security, and for overcoming destructive 
religious and ethnic conflicts. The declaration also argues that civic 
education should have a more prominent place in the programs of all 
government and international organizations.
  The text of the CIVITAS declaration follows. I urge my fellow Members 
to join me in supporting the declaration and in giving greater 
recognition to the need to improve civic education for students in the 
United States and in other nations throughout the world.
       On June 2-6, 1995, representatives from fifty-two countries 
     met in Prague at one of the largest international meetings on 
     civic education ever held. The following is a declaration 
     adopted by the participants. A list of the individual signers 
     is available on CIVNET.
       The wave of change toward democracy and the open economy 
     that swept the world at the beginning of this decade has 
     slowed, and, in some respects, even turned around. Religious 
     and ethnic intolerance; abuses of human rights; cynicism 
     toward politics and government; corruption, crime and 
     violence; ignorance, apathy and irresponsibility--all 
     represent growing challenges to freedom, the marketplace, 
     democratic government, and the rule of law.
       All this makes clear how central knowledge, skills, and 
     democratic values are to building and sustaining democratic 
     societies that are respectful of human rights and cultural 
     diversity. Once again, we see the importance of education 
     which empowers citizens to participate competently and 
     responsibly in their society.
       Despite great differences in the more than fifty countries 
     represented among us, we find many similarities in the 
     challenges we face in our civic life. These challenges exist 
     not only in the countries represented here; they also exist 
     in other parts of the world, and in all aspects of social, 
     economic, and political life. People involved in civic 
     education have much to learn from one another.
       It is time again to recognize the crucial role that civic 
     education plays in many areas of concern to the International 
     community: Shared democratic values, and institutions that 
     reflect these values, are the necessary foundation for 
     national and international security and stability; the 
     breakup of Cold War blocs, while bringing much good, has also 


[[Page E 1365]]
     created openings for aggressive and undemocratic movements, even in the 
     established democracies themselves; civic development is an 
     essential element in--not just a side effect of--economic 
     development. Investments and guarantees made by private 
     enterprise, governments, and international financial 
     institutions will fall where political and legal systems 
     fall, and where corruption and violence flourish.
       The challenge of civic education is too great for educators 
     alone. They need far greater cooperation from their own 
     peoples, governments, and the international community.
       We seek increased support for civic education--formal and 
     informal--from the widest range of institutions and 
     governments. In particular, we urge greater involvement in 
     civic education by international organizations such as the 
     Council of Europe, the European Union, the North Atlantic 
     Assembly, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe, the United Nations, UNESCO, and the World Bank.
       We seek an active personal and electronic on-line-exchange 
     (through CIVNET) of curricular concepts, teaching methods, 
     study units, and evaluation programs for all elements of 
     continuing education in civics, economics, and history.
       We pledge ourselves to create and maintain a worldwide 
     network that will make civic education a higher priority on 
     the international agenda.
     

                          ____________________