[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 111 (Tuesday, September 19, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S8754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY PROGRAM

 Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on and give 
my support to a worthy program called National History Day. National 
History Day is a year-long, nonprofit program in which children in 
grades 6-12 research and create historical projects related to a broad 
annual theme. This year's theme was ``Turning points in History: 
People, Ideas, Events.'' Using this theme, students research their area 
of interest and create a project, which is then entered in an annual 
contest. The primary goal of the National History Day program is to 
revolutionize the techniques implemented in teaching and training our 
youth.
  What I want to emphasize today is the tremendous impact this unique 
and valuable program has had in my home state of New Mexico. New 
Mexico's involvement with National History Day began three years ago, 
and has continued to grow and enrich the lives of New Mexico's youth. 
The participants in the first year were few, but to date we have had 
more than one thousand young New Mexicans participate in the state 
competition.
  New Mexico students that participate in this program are given the 
opportunity to expand upon critical thinking and research skills, which 
in turn help them in all subject areas. The projects they work on give 
them a greater appreciation of historical events that have helped shape 
their own hometowns as well as their nation. This hands on approach to 
history is an innovative way to get students excited and genuinely 
interested in our great nation's history.
  I know that with our support, the National History Day program will 
continue to grow, and I believe that this growth is essential for 
today's students. When students do not have an opportunity to 
participate in this program, they miss out on a chance to grow and to 
better themselves. As Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough states:

       Knowledge of history is the precondition of political 
     intelligence. Without history, a society shares no common 
     memory of where it has been, of what its core values are, or 
     what decisions in the past account for the present 
     circumstance.

  National History Day gives students an opportunity to learn of our 
history and its importance in their daily lives.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this program.

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