[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 98 (Monday, June 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6586-H6588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR THE PROFOUND PUBLIC SERVICE AND EDUCATIONAL 
 CONTRIBUTIONS OF DONALD JEFFRY HERBERT, FONDLY KNOWN AS ``MR. WIZARD''

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 485) expressing appreciation for the profound 
public service and educational contributions of Donald Jeffry Herbert, 
fondly known as ``Mr. Wizard''.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 485

       Whereas many citizens of the United States remember Donald 
     Jeffry Herbert as ``Mr. Wizard'' and mourn his passing;
       Whereas Don Herbert was born in Waconia, Minnesota and 
     graduated from the La Crosse State Teacher's College in 
     Wisconsin in 1940 where he trained to be a science teacher;
       Whereas Don Herbert volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps 
     and served our country in the Atlantic theater and earned the 
     Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak 
     leaf clusters;
       Whereas Don Herbert developed the idea for science 
     programming culminating in ``Watch Mr. Wizard'', a live 
     television show produced from 1951 to 1964 and honored by a 
     Peabody Award in 1954;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation and the American 
     Chemical Society lauded Don Herbert and his show for 
     promoting interest in science and his contributions to 
     science education and has since been recognized by numerous 
     awards;
       Whereas an additional educational program, ``Mr. Wizard's 
     World'', inspired children from 1983 to 1990 on cable 
     television;
       Whereas ``Mr. Wizard'' continued to serve as an ambassador 
     for science education by authoring multiple books and 
     programs, and by traveling to schools and providing classroom 
     demonstrations;
       Whereas educational research indicates that young children 
     make decisions about future careers at a very early age and 
     are influenced greatly by positive contacts with science and 
     technology;
       Whereas a strong education in science and technology is one 
     of the building blocks of a productive, competitive, and 
     healthy society;

[[Page H6587]]

       Whereas ``Mr. Wizard'' encouraged children to duplicate his 
     experiments at home, driving independent inquiry into science 
     with simple household equipment;
       Whereas ``Mr. Wizard's'' dynamic and energetic science 
     experiments attracted unprecedented numbers of children to 
     educational programming, even those who were disinterested or 
     unmotivated in science;
       Whereas Mr. Wizard Science Clubs were started across the 
     United States and had more than 100,000 children enrolled in 
     5,000 clubs by the mid-1950s; and
       Whereas Don Herbert will be remembered as a pioneer of 
     commercial educational programming and instrumental in making 
     science education exciting and approachable for millions of 
     children across the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses its appreciation for the profound public 
     service and educational contributions of Donald Jeffry 
     Herbert;
       (2) recognizes the profound impact of higher educational 
     institutions that train teachers;
       (3) encourages students to honor the heritage of Don 
     Herbert by exploring our world through science, technology, 
     engineering, and mathematics fields; and
       (4) tenders its condolences to the family of Don Herbert 
     and thanks them for their strong familial support of him.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Donald 
Jeffry Herbert and to express appreciation for his great educational 
contributions.
  Donald Herbert was born in Waconia, Minnesota, on July 10, 1917. He 
graduated from La Crosse State Teachers College in 1940, where he 
studied to become a science teacher. Before Don Herbert could make an 
educational contribution, he first served in the United States Army Air 
Force in World War II. During his service to our country, he earned the 
Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak leaf 
clusters.
  Don Herbert is best known for developing an idea which became ``Watch 
Mr. Wizard,'' a live television show which introduced many children to 
science. This show aired from 1951 to 1964. Don Herbert, who came to be 
known as Mr. Wizard, also produced another children's show from 1983 to 
1990 titled ``Mr. Wizard's World.''
  Mr. Wizard was able to explain seemingly difficult science to 
children with visually stunning experiments. Mr. Wizard amazed all of 
us that watched that show. He could make a Bunsen burner change colors 
by the elements that he used on there. He could take two colored 
solutions, pour them into a beaker and it would become clear.
  And today, when there is such an emphasis across this country and by 
this Congress to instill an appreciation and a love for science among 
our students, and among the children of this country, Mr. Wizard stands 
as a great example and a wonderful show that did just that, stimulated 
interest and created appreciation among children for science.
  Don Herbert's television programs inspired generations of children to 
become knowledgeable in science. These educational television programs 
earned Don Herbert a Peabody Award in 1954. He also won three Thomas 
Edison National Mass Media Awards and the Robert Millikan Award from 
the American Association of Physics Teachers.
  Don Herbert realized that an education including science and 
technology is a necessary component in forming a productive and 
competitive society. While he passed away on June 12, 2007, his great 
contributions to advancement of the education in the field of science 
will continue to have effects for many, many years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 485, 
expressing appreciation for the profound public service and educational 
contributions of Donald Jeffry Herbert, fondly known to all of us of my 
generation as ``Mr. Wizard.''
  Donald Jeffry Herbert will be remembered as the host of two popular 
children's television shows about science. A general science and 
English major at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, he showed 
interest in drama until his career as an actor was interrupted by World 
War II when he enlisted in the United States Army as a private.
  He later joined the United States Air Corps, took pilot training and 
became a B-24 bomber pilot who flew combat missions with the 15th Air 
Force, flying out of a base in Italy. As the gentleman from Arizona 
said, he distinguished himself in combat, winning the Distinguished 
Flying Cross and the Air Medal with the three oak leaf clusters.
  After the war, Herbert worked at a radio station in Chicago where he 
acted in children's programs such as the documentary health series 
``It's Your Life.'' It was during that time that Herbert formulated the 
idea of Mr. Wizard and a general science experiments show that utilized 
the new medium of television. Herbert's idea was accepted by a Chicago 
NBC station, and the series ``Watch Mr. Wizard'' premiered on March 3, 
1951. That was even before I was born.
  The weekly 30-minute show featured Herbert as Mr. Wizard, with a 
young assistant who watched while Herbert performed interesting science 
experiments. The experiments, many of which seemed impossible at first 
glance, were usually simple enough to be recreated by viewers. The show 
was very successful, and 547 live episodes were created before it was 
cancelled in 1965. It was briefly revived by NBC during the 1971-1972 
season. In 1953 Herbert won a Peabody Award for his work on this 
program.
  In 1983, Herbert developed ``Mr. Wizard's World,'' a faster-paced 
version of the show that was shown three times a week on the cable 
channel Nickelodeon. This show ran until 1990, and reruns were shown 
until 2000, making it the longest-running show on Nickelodeon.
  In 1994, Herbert developed another series of 15-minute spots for 
Nickelodeon called ``Teacher to Teacher with Mr. Wizard.'' The new show 
highlighted individual elementary school teachers and their projects 
and was sponsored by the Daschle Science Foundation.
  Mr. Wizard inspired legions of children across the Nation. Kids in 
every town joined thousands of Mr. Wizard clubs and did some of the 
same experiments that were seen on television, sometimes even without 
burning up the house. Many of these young viewers went on to careers in 
science and all were at least taught the practicalities of science in 
our daily lives.
  On June 12, 2007, Donald Herbert lost his battle with cancer, 
slightly more than a month shy of his 90th birthday at his home in Bell 
Canyon, California. For the immeasurable contributions he made in 
children's lives and to the field of science, I would ask my colleagues 
to support this resolution recognizing his life and work.
  Mr. Speaker, I'd ask the gentleman from Arizona if he has other 
speakers on this particular topic. I do have one other I'd like to 
yield time to.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to reserve.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to 
someone who really understands what he's talking about.
  I enjoyed Mr. Wizard shows. They were fascinating. I still hated 
chemistry, but I enjoyed Mr. Wizard. And with that I'd like to yield to 
the distinguished gentleman and scientist from the State of Michigan, 
Mr. Ehlers.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. And had 
I been your teacher, you never would have disliked any science course. 
I would have been delighted to recognize your native ability.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 485, which 
expresses appreciation for the profound public service and educational 
contributions of Donald Jeffry Herbert, who passed away on June 12, 
2007.
  Many people fondly remember Donald Herbert as Mr. Wizard, and they 
mourn his passing. He was born in

[[Page H6588]]

Waconia, Minnesota, which also happens to be my birth State, and he 
graduated from the La Crosse State Teachers College in Wisconsin in 
1940, where he trained to be a science teacher.
  He volunteered for the U.S. Army Air Corps and served our country 
during World War II in the Atlantic theater and earned the 
Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak leaf 
clusters.
  Mr. Wizard will be remembered as a pioneer of commercial educational 
programming. He made science education and science exciting and 
approachable for millions of children across the United States. He 
developed the idea for science programs on radio and television, 
culminating in ``Watch Mr. Wizard,'' a live television show produced 
from 1951 to 1964. Another of his shows, ``Mr. Wizard's World,'' 
inspired children from 1983 to 1990 on cable television. Incidentally, 
these were precursors to today's Mr. Wizard equivalent, Bill Nye, the 
Science Guy, who has developed an outstanding reputation on Saturday 
morning television for educating children about science.
  The National Science Foundation and the American Chemical Society 
lauded Don Herbert and his show for promoting interest in science and 
his contributions to science education. He has since been recognized by 
numerous awards.
  For the duration of his life, Mr. Wizard served as an ambassador for 
science education. Outside of his television shows, he promoted science 
by offering multiple books and programs and by traveling to schools to 
provide classroom demonstrations. Not surprisingly, Mr. Wizard's 
dynamic and energetic science experiments attracted unprecedented 
numbers of children to educational programming, even those who were 
initially disinterested or unmotivated in science.
  Mr. Wizard taught the magic about science by doing science. In fact, 
Mr. Wizard encouraged children to duplicate his experiments at home, 
leading children into independent inquiry into science with simple 
household equipment.

                              {time}  1445

  I might add he was a precursor to what is happening in the classrooms 
today, because teachers have discovered the best way to teach science 
is to let students do the science themselves.
  I also appreciate what he did in leading children into independent 
inquiry. I grew up before television, and so I did not have the 
opportunity to watch him. But I developed my interest in science by 
doing experiments at home. These were experiments that were outlined in 
Popular Science Magazine, and that gave me my start in science, just as 
Mr. Wizard gave many other children their start in science.
  Certainly, Mr. Wizard's efforts were very important, and are relevant 
to legislation currently under consideration by our Congress. Evidence 
indicates that young children make decisions about future careers at an 
early age and are influenced greatly by positive contacts with science 
and technology. Recently passed bipartisan bills have focused on the 
need to improve science education, promote innovation, and ensure our 
Nation's competitiveness.
  This year I introduced several bills related to science education, 
including the Science Accountability Act, H.R. 35; the Standards to 
Improve Educational Achievement for Kids, better known as the SPEAK 
Act, H.R. 325; and the National Science Education Tax Incentive for 
Teachers Act, H.R. 36.
  Through this resolution the House of Representatives expresses its 
appreciation for the profound public service and educational 
contributions of Donald Herbert. Also, we should recognize the major 
impact of higher educational institutions that train teachers who 
encourage students to honor the heritage of Don Herbert by exploring 
our world through science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
fields.
  I offer my condolences to the family of Don Herbert, and we thank 
them for their strong support of Mr. Wizard's tremendous educational 
efforts. He has set a path that all of us should follow, and if we are 
serious about competing with other nations and keeping the jobs on our 
soil rather than letting them be outsourced, we must follow his example 
and educate our children in mathematics and science so that we can 
continue to be ranked number one in the world in the areas of science 
and mathematics.
  Finally, I thank the Members who cosponsored this resolution: Mr. 
Akin, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Gingrey, Mr. Hall, Mr. Kuhl, Mr. Lampson, Mrs. 
McCarthy, Mr. John Peterson, and Mr. Mark Udall. Also, I thank the 
Education and Labor Committee staff for their work on this resolution, 
especially Chad Miller and Rob Borden, as well as my staff member, 
Rachel Post, who has contributed invaluably to this.
  I urge all Members to vote for this resolution to honor Don Herbert 
for all his work on science education and to honor his memory by 
continuing to support science education in the future.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 485.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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