[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DONNA PAOLETTI PHILLIPS

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                        HON. BENJAMIN L. CARDIN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2006

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Donna 
Paoletti Phillips, my constituent, and one of three recipients of the 
first annual American Civic Education Teacher Award. This award honors 
teachers who have demonstrated a special expertise in teaching about 
the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Congress, and public policy at the 
state and local levels. It is one of the activities of the Alliance for 
Representative Democracy, which is funded by the U.S. Department of 
Education by an act of Congress.
  Now in her eleventh year as an educator, Donna, a resident of 
Columbia, Maryland, teaches eighth grade at Robert Frost Middle Schools 
in Rockville. She has worked to make her classroom an incubator of 
democracy, believing that ``the essence of civic education lies in the 
people the students become while in the care of our classrooms.'' She 
describes her teaching style as experiential, noting that civic 
education cannot be a ``from the neck up'' activity.
  For 6 years, Donna has coordinated We the People, the Citizen and the 
Constitution, a simulated congressional hearing held annually at the 
Robert Frost Middle School. In that time, she has witnessed a profound 
change in the participating teachers as they moved from direct 
instruction to a more facilitative role in the students' education 
process. She has also observed the students' progress to more self-
directed research and collaboration with their peers. For these 
reasons, Donna sees this program as a life-changing activity for those 
involved.
  Throughout the school year, Donna's students are able to witness her 
collaboration with fellow faculty and her volunteer efforts in the 
community. She initiates discussions on global, national, local, and 
school-based events, and frequently questions the causes of injustices, 
inspiring her students to do the same.
  Donna says that she is proud to have ``the best kids in the country'' 
in her class, and she considers it a wonderful opportunity to teach in 
the Washington Metropolitan Area, where Capitol Hill can be so easily 
accessed. I am very pleased that she is visiting my office today, and I 
call upon my colleagues to join me in honoring Donna Paoletti Phillips' 
accomplishments and congratulating her on receiving this award.

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