[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 30 (Thursday, March 9, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E324]
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

                        Thursday, March 9, 2006

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an 
extraordinary group of students and their dedicated teacher and mentor. 
They are one of the American Government classes from Wilson High School 
and will represent the state of South Carolina in the national We the 
People . . . The Citizen and the Constitution Mock Congressional 
Hearing Competition. That event will be held here in Washington, DC 
during the month of April. Located in Florence, South Carolina, Wilson 
High School is one of the outstanding public schools I proudly 
represent in this body.
  These young scholars have worked diligently to reach the national 
finals and through their experiences have gained profound knowledge and 
understanding of the fundamental principles and values of our 
constitutional democracy.
  The students are: Jordan Berry, Robert Bonanno, Alyssa Carver, Kevin 
Cielo, Alexx Diera, Amanda Fan, Jessica Frieson, Carrie Goforth, Meagan 
Harley, James Howell, David Hubbs, Praveen Jacob, Challis King, Amit 
Om, Bradley Orr, Louis Palles, Robert Razick, Daniel Schuetz, and Ana 
Weiland.
  In addition, I would like to commend their teacher, Yvonne Rhodes, 
who deserves much of the credit for the success of the class. This is 
the third time Mrs. Rhoads has led a team of Wilson High Students to 
these national competitions. We certainly hope for their continued 
success. Also worthy of special recognition is Beth DeHart, the state 
coordinator, and Marsha Burch, the district coordinator, who are among 
those responsible for implementing the We the People program in my 
district.
  We the People is one of the most extensive educational programs in 
the country specifically developed to educate young people about the 
Constitution and the 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 
students' 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.
  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 staffs 
enhance the program by discussing current constitutional issues with 
students and teachers and by participating in other educational 
activities. As a former high school 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 We the People's 
national finals and I look forward to greeting them when they visit the 
Capitol.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me and my colleagues as we congratulate 
these young scholars from Wilson High School as they compete in this 
national civics competition.

                          ____________________