[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INDIANA STATE DELEGATION WORKING TO PROMOTE CIVIC EDUCATION

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                           HON. BARON P. HILL

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 2004

  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, Alexander Hamilton once said, ``Here, sir, the 
people govern.'' These words grace the entrance to the House of 
Representatives to remind us of the promise of our representative 
democracy. The Founders of this nation understood that a free society 
must rely on the knowledge, skills, and virtue of its citizens and 
those serving in public office on their behalf. That is why civic 
education in our schools is so important. In my state of Indiana, and 
throughout the nation, I am pleased to learn that a proactive effort 
has recently been initiated to improve civic learning and instruction.
  On September 20-22 of last year the First Annual Congressional 
Conference on Civic Education was launched. The conference was 
sponsored by the Alliance for Representative Democracy and co-hosted by 
the four leaders of the U.S. Congress.
  One of the very positive outcomes of the congressional conference was 
the establishment of state delegations that would return to the state 
to enact specific policies designed to restore the civic mission of our 
schools. I would like to recognize John J. Patrick, the facilitator of 
the Indiana delegation, for leadership in working to design an action 
plan to improve civic education in our state. These state activities 
include: (1) organizing conferences for professors of Indiana colleges 
and universities to emphasize civic education in the preparation of 
teachers; (2) producing reports about exemplary practices of civic 
education; (3) supporting programs to improve teaching and learning 
about the United States Constitution in schools, and (4) building a 
network of organizations and individuals to promote civic education in 
Indiana.
  Mr. Speaker. I look forward to the success of the Indiana civic 
education delegation and their participation at the Second Annual 
Congressional Conference on Civic Education on December 4-6 of this 
year.

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