[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S5826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL HISTORY DAY
Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, this week high school students from all
across the Nation have come together to celebrate National History Day
at the University of Maryland. I would like to commend these students,
their parents, and their teachers for demonstrating such interest to
the study of history. History education is the foundation of a quality
education, and ensuring that we have passionate and dedicated students
of history is an important accomplishment of the competitions and
events at the University of Maryland this week.
The National History Day program delivers yearlong programs dedicated
to improving the teaching and learning of history across our country.
Over 1.5 million students, teachers and parents, participate in the
instructional and research projects each year. Since 1994, millions of
Americans from all across the country have improved their knowledge of
history through participation in this creative program.
We know that there is a need for better teaching and learning of
history. The 2006 National Assessment of Educational Progress, NAEP,
U.S. History report card shows that 82 percent of 4th graders, 83
percent of 8th graders, and 77 percent of high school seniors scored
below proficient in historical knowledge. These results are similar to
results for the past decade in NAEP assessments, and it concerns me
greatly.
As an advocate for putting American history and civics back into its
rightful place in our school curriculum, I chose to do my maiden speech
on the education of our children and the principles that unite us as
Americans. Along with several other distinguished cosponsors, I
introduced the American History and Civics Act in 2003 to create
Presidential and Congressional Academies for Teachers of American
History and Civics--and was pleased when that legislation was signed
into law.
I have had some experience with such academies when I was Governor of
Tennessee. In 1984, we began creating Governor's Schools for students
and teachers. Eventually there were eight Governor's Schools helping
thousands of Tennessee teachers improve their skills and inspiring
outstanding students to learn more about core curriculum subjects. When
the school year began, students and teachers brought with them a new
enthusiasm for learning and teaching that directly impacted their
peers. Governor's Schools were one of the most effective and popular
educational initiatives in our state, and I am pleased that we have
been able to use that as a model for the Nation.
I applaud the organizers National History Day for recognizing the
importance of educating today's youth of the many great feats that were
accomplished, the struggles that were overcome, and the events that
took place to make this country what it is today. I also congratulate
all of the students, teachers, and parents who participate in it--and
in particular wanted to congratulate the following Tennessee students
participating in this event:
Emilee Frazier--Chuckey Doak Middle School, Afton, TN;
Katie Adams--Chuckey Doak Middle School, Afton, TN; Gary
Moats--Polk County High School, Benton, TN; Nick Ramsey--Polk
County High School, Benton, TN; Matthew Vandevander--Polk
County High School, Benton, TN; Anthony Joslin--Polk County
High School, Benton, TN; Jon Rivers--Tyner Academy,
Chattanooga, TN; Manish Jethva--Tyner Academy, Chattanooga,
TN; Jacquelyn Benford--Tyner Academy, Chattanooga, TN;
Markcus Kitchens--Tyner Academy, Chattanooga, TN; Walker
Thompson--St. George's Middle School, Collierville, TN; Ryan
Grover--St. George's Middle School, Collierville, TN; Mason
McGough--St. George's Middle School, Collierville, TN; Andrew
McBride--St. George's Middle School, Collierville, TN; Nikki
Martinez--St. Benedict at Auburndale, Cordova, TN; Anna
Cabe--St. Benedict at Auburndale, Cordova, TN; Mary Barczak--
St. Benedict at Auburndale, Cordova, TN; Andrew Grayson--Fred
Page Middle School, Franklin, TN; Adam Anderson--Fred Page
Middle School, Franklin, TN; and Olivia Smith--Fred Page
Middle School, Knoxville, TN.
Dylan Rasnick--Fred Page Middle School, Knoxville, TN;
Katherine Ballew--Fred Page Middle School, Knoxville, TN;
Willis Walker--Fred Page Middle School, Knoxville, TN; Erin
Stapleton--Fred Page Middle School, Knoxville, TN; William
Coe--Greenway School, Knoxville, TN; Sophie Yates--Greenway
School, Knoxville, TN; Shannon Gleason--Knoxville Catholic
High School, Knoxville, TN; Hannah Armendarez--Knoxville
Catholic High School, Knoxville, TN; Xrista Christopoulos--
St. John Neumann School, Knoxville, TN; Alexander Grimm--St.
John Neuman School, Knoxville, TN; Claire Northern--St. John
Neuman School, Knoxville, TN; C.C. Hermes--St. John Neuman
School, Knoxville, TN; Sarah Gallagher--Lebanon High School,
Lebanon, TN; Jennifer Melroy--Lenoir City High School, Lenoir
City, TN; Rachel Collins--Fort Loudoun Middle School, Loudon,
TN; Sarah Aldy--St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School,
Memphis, TN; Ali Delgado--St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic
School, Memphis, TN; Alex Arcamuzi--White Station High
School, Memphis, TN; Sahaj Singh--White Station High School,
Memphis, TN; Bhavna Kansal--White Station High School,
Memphis, TN.
Melissa Swauncy--White Station High School, Memphis, TN;
Breanna Morrow--Mosheim Elementary, Mosheim, TN; Brittany
Loveall--Mosheim Elementary, Mosheim, TN; Melissa Kinser--
Mosheim Elementary, Mosheim, TN; Melody Zurawski--Martin
Luther King Jr. Magnet-Pearl High School, Nashville, TN;
Quidra Cothran--Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet-Pearl High
School, Nashville, TN; Kayla Garrett--Martin Luther King Jr.
Magnet-Pearl High School, Nashville, TN; Amber Jackson--
Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet-Pearl High School, Nashville,
TN; London Colbert--Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet-Pearl High
School, Nashville, TN; Sonali Mahendran Meigs Magnet Middle
School, Nashville, TN; Vivian Hughbanks--Stone House School,
Signal Mountain, TN; Grace Hughbanks--Stone House School,
Signal Mountain, TN; and Caitlyn Sudkamp--Walden Home School,
Signal Mountain, TN.
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