[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ALVIN R. BELL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL G. OXLEY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 1997

  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to recognize Alvin R. Bell, a 
constituent of mine who for the second straight year participated in 
CIVITAS@Bosnia and Herzegovina, an intensive program from August 1 
through August 17, 1997, designed to train teachers from throughout 
Bosnia and Herzegovina with materials and methods developed to educate 
for democracy. Mr. Bell was part of a team of 20 American educators who 
were assigned to 16 locations throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, 
including the Republic of Srpska; the Americans teamed with 18 teachers 
from the Council of Europe in nine of these sites. This education for 
democracy program reached 550 teachers from both entities of Bosnia and 
Herzegovina.
  The summer training program was developed by the Center for Civic 
Education as part of a major civic education initiative in Bosnia and 
Herzegovina. The goals of the program are to provide teachers with the 
tools necessary to help prepare students and their communities for 
competent and responsible citizenship, including participation in 
elections and other opportunities to take part in the political life of 
their communities. Achieving this goal will contribute to the 
reconstitution of a sense of community, cooperation, tolerance, and 
support for democracy and human rights in this war torn area.
  I am also pleased to announce that the curricular materials being 
used for the program in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been adapted from 
the we the people * * * the citizen and the Constitution foundations of 
democracy, and the project citizen programs, which are supported by 
Congress and used in schools throughout the United States. Initial 
reports evaluating the summer program indicate that materials (selected 
and adapted by educators from Bosnia and Herzegovina) and teaching 
methods were enthusiastically received and will be adapted for use in 
classrooms in both entities of the country.
  Alvin Bell is a teacher at Findlay High School in my hometown of 
Findlay, OH. Mr. Bell has guided five different teams of students to 
Washington, DC, to participate in the we the people * * * the citizen 
and Constitution national finals. This impressive academic competition 
simulates a congressional hearing and provides students an opportunity 
to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the U.S. 
Constitution and Bill of Rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend Alvin Bell for his dedication and 
commitment during the CIVITAS@Bosnia and Herzegovina summer training 
program. His work is helping to achieve the overall objective of 
building democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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