[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 30, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1611-E1612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATING THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE HOUSE FELLOWS PROGRAM

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS-

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2008

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
participants of the House Fellows Program. As an initiative of the 
Office of the Historian, this program is a unique opportunity for a 
select group of secondary education teachers of American history and 
government to experience firsthand how Congress really works. They were 
chosen because they are educators with demonstrated excellence in the 
classroom.
   One of the goals of the program is to develop curricular materials 
on the history and practice of the House for use in schools. Each 
Fellow will prepare his or her brief lesson plan on a Congressional 
topic of their choosing, and these plans will become part of a teaching 
resource database on the House. During the school year following their 
participation in the House Fellows Program, each Fellow will have the 
responsibility to present their experiences and lesson plans to at 
least one in-service institute for teachers of history and government.
   Since the House Fellows Program beginning in 2006, 49 teachers from 
around the country have participated in this innovative program. With 
plans to select a teacher from every congressional district over the 
next several years, the House Fellows Program will be able to impact 
thousands of high school teachers and their students, providing an 
inside account of how the House of Representatives functions, 
energizing thousands of students to become informed and active 
citizens. As a former teacher, I know that civic education is 
essential. We must continue our efforts to get our young people 
involved in the political process, not only in my congressional 
district but in districts across the country. Educating teachers about 
the ``People's House'' is one of the best ways to do that.

[[Page E1612]]

   Among the teachers who are participating this week, I am pleased to 
welcome Ms. Lyntonia Coston of the Brooklyn Arts and Media High School. 
I know that all Members will join me in congratulating Ms. Coston and 
all the teachers who are participating in the 5th session of the House 
Fellows Program.
   Ms. Lynda Good, William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, Great 
Neck, New York (Ackerman, NY05); Ms. Brooke Goldstein, Francis Marion 
Military Academy, Ocala, Florida (Stearns, FL06); Ms. Cari Gray, New 
Braunfels High School, New Braunfels, Texas (Smith, TX21); Ms. Monica 
Hiranandani, St. Bonaventure High School, Ventura, California 
(Gallegly, CA24); Ms. Heather Ihde, Riverdale High School, 
Murfreesboro, Tennessee (Gordon, TN06); Ms. Alma Ortiz, Homer Hana High 
School, Brownsville, Texas (Ortiz, TX27); Michael Tucker, Ewing High 
School, Ewing, New Jersey (Smith, NJ04).
   Madam Speaker, I would like to urge all of my colleagues to join me 
in thanking the Office of the Historian for sponsoring this program. 
Under the leadership of Dr. Remini and Dr. Fred Beuttler, along with 
their staff; Michael Cronin, Anthony Wallis, Andrew Dodge, and Dr. 
Charles Flanagan; interns George Dise, Parker Williams, and Mike 
Ferrin; the Office of the Historian is dedicated to conserving and 
presenting the history of the House of Representatives, the ``People's 
House.''

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