[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 49 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E565-E566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO WILSON HIGH SCHOOL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, on April 21-23, 2001, more than 1,200 
students from across the United States will be in Washington, D.C. to 
compete in the national finals of the We the People . . . The Citizen 
and the Constitution program. I am proud to announce that the class 
from Wilson High School from my district in Florence will represent the 
state of South Carolina in this national event. These young scholars 
have worked diligently to reach the national finals and through their 
experience have gained profound knowledge and understanding of the 
fundamental principles and values of our constitutional democracy.
  The students are: Lakisha Boston, Lynette Carr, Christine Chen, 
Rebecca Derrick, Ashunti Drummond, Elizabeth Fortnum, Albert Hayward, 
Anthony Henderson, Benjamin Ingram, Janny Liu, Christina Moss, Jason 
Owens, Anna Stewart, Tyler Thomas, and Dheepa Varadarajan. I would also 
like to recognize their teacher, Yvonne Rhodes, who deserves much of 
the credit for the success of the class.
  We the People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution is one of the 
most extensive educational programs in the country specifically 
developed to educate young people about the Constitution and Bill of 
Rights. The three-day national competition is modeled after 
congressional hearings and they consist of oral presentations by the 
high school students before a panel of judges. The student's testimony 
is followed by a period of questioning by the simulated congressional 
committee. The judges probe students for their depth of understanding 
and ability to apply their constitutional knowledge. The 250th 
Anniversary of James Madison's birth in 1751 offers an appropriate 
opportunity to examine this Founder's contribution to American 
constitutionalism and politics. To this end, the national finals will 
include questions on Madison and his legacy.
  Findings suggest that national finalists are less cynical about 
politics and public officials and participate in politics at a higher 
rate than do their peers. Administered by the Center for Civic 
Education, the We the People program has provided curriculum materials 
at the upper elementary, middle, and high school levels for more than 
26.5 million students nationwide. Members of Congress and our staff 
enhance

[[Page E566]]

the program by discussing current constitutional issues with students 
and teachers and by participating in other educational activities. As a 
former history teacher, I am pleased to know that this program provides 
students with a working knowledge of our Constitution, Bill of Rights, 
and the principles of our democratic government.
  The class from Wilson High School is currently conducting research 
and preparing for the upcoming national competition in Washington, D.C. 
I wish these young scholars the best of luck at the We the People . . . 
national finals. My staff and I look forward to greeting them when they 
visit Capitol. Mr. Speaker, please join me and my colleagues as we 
congratulate the young scholars from Wilson High School as they compete 
in this national civics competition.

                          ____________________