[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          WE THE PEOPLE . . . THE CITIZEN AND THE CONSTITUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 1999

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to 
congratulate the young scholars of Woodbridge High School from 
Bridgeville who represented my home state of Delaware in the We the 
People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution program. They were part 
of a group of 1200 students from across the country who were in 
Washington, D.C. from May first to the third to compete in the national 
finals of this program. These young scholars worked diligently and 
persistently to reach the national finals and through this program have 
gained a deeper knowledge and understanding of the fundamental 
principles and values of our constitutional democracy.
  The names of the students are: Derek Bowman, Mike Clendaniel, Lisa 
Culver, Joy Diogo, Laura Divver, Shawanda Garrison, Krsitine Haring, 
Cassie Hartzell, Brooke Hearn, Lina Hertzog, Heather Holmes, Jared 
Judy, Michele Keough, Matt McCoy, Josh Miller, Blake Moore, Andrew 
Morozowich, Jessica Parkinson, Willie Savage, Crystal Short and 
Lefeisha Williamson.
  I would also like to extend my congratulations to their teacher, 
Barbara Hudson, who deserves much of the credit for the success of the 
team.
  The We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution program is 
the most extensive educational program in the country developed 
specifically to educate young students about the Constitution and the 
Bill of Rights. The three-day final competition they participated in 
consisted of hearings modeled after those in the United States 
Congress. The students made oral presentations before a panel of adult 
judges and testified as constitutional experts before a ``congressional 
committee.'' A panel of adult judges representing various regions of 
the country and a variety of appropriate professional fields served on 
the congressional committees. These judges followed up the testimonies 
with a series of questions designed to test the students' depth of 
understanding and their ability to apply constitutional knowledge to 
given situations.
  The We the People program is administered by the Center for Civic 
Education, and has provided curricular materials at upper elementary, 
middle and high school levels for more than 26.5 million students 
nationwide. This program has promoted civic competence and 
responsibility among young students as well as awareness for 
contemporary relevance of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
  The team from Woodbridge High School conducted research in 
preparation for the national competition here in Washington, D.C. I 
congratulate them for their fine work that enabled them to come so far 
in this competition and to visit our nation's capital.

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