[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H8264-H8265]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING ANDREW WOJTANIK FOR WINNING THE 16TH ANNUAL NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC BEE
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 815) congratulating Andrew Wojtanik for winning the
16th Annual National Geographic Bee, conducted by the National
Geographic Society.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 815
Whereas the 16th Annual National Geographic Bee was held in
Washington, D.C., from May 25 to May 26, 2004;
Whereas the National Geographic Bee encourages the
participation of millions of students and thousands of
schools nationwide;
Whereas Andrew Wojtanik, an 8th grade student at Lakewood
Middle School in Overland Park, Kansas, displayed his mastery
of world geography by winning the 16th Annual National
Geographic Bee;
Whereas Andrew Wojtanik competed against 54 other
elementary, middle, and junior high school students from
across the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
and the Pacific Territories;
Whereas the National Geographic Bee tests the knowledge of
students in a variety of subjects related to world geography,
including physical, economic, cultural, political, and
environmental topics;
Whereas the creation of the National Geographic Bee is an
example of the National Geographic Society's commitment to
broadening the understanding of students and the general
public about the world around them;
Whereas geographic literacy has become increasingly
important as technology and world events more often cross
borders, oceans, and continents;
Whereas surveys consistently show that the level of
geographic knowledge among people in the United States lags
behind citizens of other countries;
Whereas a National Geographic-Roper survey of young adults
between the ages of 18 and 24 in 9 different countries
recently indicated that young adults in the United States
were outperformed in geographic literacy by young adults in
Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Great Britain, and
Canada;
Whereas the National Geographic-Roper survey also indicated
that only 13 percent of young adults in the United States
between the ages of 18 and 24 could correctly identify Iraq
on a map of the Asia and the Middle East: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) congratulates Andrew Wojtanik, the champion of the 16th
Annual National Geographic Bee, for his comprehensive
knowledge of geography; and
(2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to
make available enrolled copies of this resolution to Lakewood
Middle School in Overland Park, Kansas, for appropriate
display and to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution
to Andrew Wojtanik and his family.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).
General Leave
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 815.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 815 congratulates Andrew Wojtanik for
winning the 16th Annual National Geographic Bee conducted by the
National Geographic Society.
Mr. Speaker, this is a terrific and well-deserved honor for a
terrific and deserving young man. I strongly support the resolution and
urge all of my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, 14-year-old 8th grader Andrew Wojtanik from Lakewood
Middle School in Overland Park, Kansas, took top honors at the 2004
National Geographic Bee, which was held here in Washington, D.C. in
May.
Andrew should be an example for all young people because he won a
$25,000 college scholarship, a lifetime membership in the National
Geographic Society, and a week at a Sea World Busch Gardens Adventure
Camp.
The winning question was: ``Peshawar, a city in the North-West
Frontier Province of Pakistan has had strategic importance for decades
because of its location near a historic pass.''
Andrew answered correctly when he replied, ``Khyber Pass.''
How many of us would have answered that question correctly? Well, I
do not know. But for a $25,000 scholarship I am sure that there are
many young people who would try.
I congratulate Andrew and urge all of my colleagues to vote
affirmatively for this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore), the
author of this resolution, and I urge passage and congratulate Andrew
Wojtanik.
Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of his proud neighbors in Kansas'
Third Congressional District, and particularly on behalf of the
students and teachers at Lakewood Middle School in Overland Park,
Kansas, I am honored today to speak in favor of my resolution
congratulating Andrew Wojtanik for winning the 16th Annual National
Geographic Bee. I have been joined in this effort by Representatives
Jim Ryun and Jerry Moran of Kansas, and by Representatives Major Owens,
Earl Blumenauer, and Max Burns. This resolution is similar to H. Res.
804, which we introduced last week, and reintroduced on Monday due to
some jurisdictional issues which prevented bringing the original
resolution to the floor quickly.
On May 26, 2004, Andrew won the 16th Annual National Geographic Bee
when he correctly answered a question about the Khyber Pass in Northern
Pakistan.
While Andrew's comprehensive knowledge of geography is an inspiration
to students everywhere, studies suggest that most of Andrew's peers
would be unable to find Pakistan on a map, let alone be aware of the
significance of the Khyber Pass. Only 13 percent of young adults in the
United States between the ages of 18 and 24 can correctly identify Iraq
on a map of Asia and the Middle East. Year after year, American
students are consistently outperformed in geographic literacy by
students in Sweden, Germany, Italy, France, Japan, Great Britain, and
Canada.
The truth is that many students in the United States receive only a
minimal amount of geography education during their educational careers.
In 2001, Congress acknowledged the importance of including geography
education in school curriculums when it designated geography as a
``core subject'' in the No Child Left Behind Act; yet, geography
remains the only core subject identified in that act without a Federal
program designed to improve educational performance.
[[Page H8265]]
Congress must honor its commitment to the children of the United
States and address the need for improved geography education. As we
have recognized in other areas of education, the only way to truly
improve the educational system at a student-level is to help schools
use the most effective teaching techniques to increase student
knowledge and understanding. Geography education is no exception.
The National Geographic Society Alliance Program is an excellent
example of current efforts to improve geography education at the state
and local level. Alliances around the country provide teachers with
intensive professional development opportunities in geography
education, cultivating opportunities for teachers in State-level
chapters to collaborate on geography education efforts and to
participate in NGS professional development programs. And the success
of the National Geographic Society Alliance Program is seen through the
achievements of its students--students of teachers who have been
involved in the Alliance program have statistically higher levels of
geographic literacy achievement than other students. Promoting proven,
effective teaching techniques, such as those developed through the
National Geographic Society Alliance Program, will be essential if
Congress is to successfully foster greater geographic literacy among
American students.
If we are to continue our efforts to develop the most educated
citizenry in the world, we must closely examine how we educate our
youngest citizens about the world. This resolution acknowledges the
good work of the National Geographic Society and its commitment to
geographic literacy through a variety of means, including its
sponsorship of the National Geographic Bee and the successful operation
of its Alliance Program. This is a useful first step to refocusing
attention on the need for geographic literacy and its important role in
our children's education.
It is my hope that passage of this resolution will do more than just
applaud Andrew Wojtanik's mastery of geography skills--this resolution
will reaffirm Congress's commitment to geography and recognize a
national public-private partnership dedicated to improving geographic
literacy among American students. For these reasons, I urge my
colleagues to join with me in supporting this resolution today.
Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 815.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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