[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16101-S16102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Civic Education Plan for the State of Tennessee
``Civic education should be a central purpose of education
essential to the well-being of representative democracy.''
``Civic education should be seen as a core subject. Well-
defined state standards and curricular requirements are
necessary to ensure civic education is taught effectively at
each grade level.''
``Policies that support `Quality teacher education and
professional development' are important to insure effective
classroom instruction and raise student achievement.''
``Classroom programs that foster an understanding of
fundamental constitutional principles through . . . service
learning, discussion of current events, or simulations . . .
are essential to civic education.''
Mr. FRIST. With these four principles in mind, the Tennessee
delegation has made the following Tennessee State Action Plan:
Reconvene in Tennessee to discuss further plans, an early
December meeting is planned to include the entire delegation.
A follow-up meeting will include each delegate bringing
``to the table'' persons of influence that will help deliver
our mission reviving ``Civics in the Classroom.''
Janis Kyser and Rep. Joe Towns will attend a Youth For
Justice meeting to help with organizing a 501c3 organization
to serve as a statewide clearing house for LRE services;
Conduct an intensive state-wide LRE survey to determine what
is happening, what needs to happen and where are the gaps in
service; Plan and conduct a Statewide LRE conference.
Tennessee Delegation: Ms. Janis Kyser, State Facilitator;
Senator Randy McNally, Tennessee State Senate; Representative
Beth Harwell, Tennessee House of Representatives;
Representative Joe Towns, Jr., Tennessee House of
Representatives; Mr. Richard Ray, Chairman State School
Board; Mr. Bruce Opie, Legislative Liaison, Tennessee
Department of Education; Dr. Ashley Smith Jr., President
Tennessee Middle School Association.
Mr. DASCHLE. I share the Majority Leader's belief that schools are
critical in this effort. We must do a better job of educating our
children to be the productive and involved citizens that our democracy,
our country, needs.
Mr. FRIST. The Senator from South Dakota is correct. There are other
important partners as well.
Democracy isn't something that just happens to us. It's something
each of us must actively create. Citizenship gives us rights, but it
also gives us responsibilities. Each of us has a responsibility to
understand the great principles on which our great country was
[[Page S16102]]
founded. Each of us has a responsibility to participate in the process
of self-government.
It is an essential balance: rights and responsibilities. When we
neglect either side of that equation, our democracy is in trouble.
Mr. DASCHLE. I agree with the Senator from Tennessee. It's not enough
for the principles of our democracy to be known by only a few. That's
not American democracy. In order to have a strong, vibrant democracy,
everyone has to participate. Everyone has to know the history and the
rules. We all need to learn not just names and dates, but the process
of democracy. We also need to develop new and better ways to keep
adults informed and involved in the civic life of their communities and
of our nation.
Our nation faces grave, new challenges today. The very real threat of
terrorism is forcing us to examine the balance between liberty and
security. How do ``we the people'' respond to terrorism? How do ``we
the people'' operate in an increasingly global world? In a world in
which we are inundated with information of all kinds, how do we assure
that people get the information they need to make informed decisions
about our democracy and our future? These are the kinds of questions
that future Congressional Conferences on Civic Education can explore.
Mr. FRIST. My friend is correct. The challenges and questions our
nation faces today are different than those faced by our founders. But
they are, in many ways, just as profound.
The great principles of democracy are what unify us as a people and
bind us together as a nation. They are what gives us the strength to
face the challenges of a complex world as one people. And, as my friend
noted, they are what has made it possible for us to preserve the
miracle of Philadelphia and keep our republic for more than two
centuries.
I look forward to working with the distinguished democratic leader
and with our colleagues in the House leadership to prepare for next
year's conference. I also look forward to working with my fellow
Tennesseans to see that our State produces an outstanding State action
plan before that conference.
Mr. DASCHLE. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record
the Conference Statement and join the majority leader in encouraging
all of our colleagues to lend their support to this Congressionally-
sponsored effort to dramatically improve civic education and civic
participation in America.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Conference Statement--First Annual Congressional Conference on Civic
Education
The participants at the First Annual Congressional
Conference on Civic Education acknowledge that there is an
urgent need to address the low level of civic engagement in
America. We recognize that:
Civic knowledge and engagement are essential to maintaining
our representative democracy. While many institutions help to
develop Americans' civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions,
schools must have the capacity to prepare students for
engaged citizenship. Civic education should be a central
purpose of education essential to the well-being of
representative democracy.
Civic education should be seen as a core subject. Well-
defined state standards and curricular requirements are
necessary to ensure that civic education is taught
effectively at each grade level from kindergarten through
12th grade. Strengthening the civic mission of schools must
be a shared responsibility of the public and private sectors
at the community, local, state, and national levels.
Policies that support quality teacher education and
professional development are important to ensure effective
classroom instruction and raise student achievement.
Well-designed classroom programs that foster an
understanding of fundamental constitutional principles
through methods such as service learning, discussion of
current events, or simulations of democratic processes and
procedures are essential to civic education.
In recognition of these findings, we resolve to take action
to reaffirm the historic civic mission of our schools.
Adopted by the Delegates to the First Congressional
Conference on Civic Education, September 22, 2003, in
Washington, D.C.
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