[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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