[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 126 (Monday, September 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THANKING THE MASTER TEACHERS OF THE HOUSE FELLOWS PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 20, 2010

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank the 
Master Teachers from last summer's House Fellows Program. The House 
Fellows Program, run by the Office of the House Historian, is a unique 
opportunity for a select group of secondary education American history 
and government teachers to experience firsthand the inner-workings of 
Congress. These Master Teachers, Ms. Valerie Ziegler from San 
Francisco, California and Ms. Dodie Kasper from Frisco, Texas, 
demonstrated their leadership in mentoring and advising the Fellows 
here in Washington. Both teachers are dedicated to educating our 
Nation's youth and are truly deserving of our recognition.
  One of the goals of the House Fellows Program is to develop 
curriculum on the history and practice of the House for use in schools. 
During this summer's program, the Fellows were guided by Ms. Ziegler, 
Ms. Kasper and the staff of the Office of the Historian, in preparing a 
brief lesson plan on a Congressional topic of their choosing. These 
plans will become part of a larger teaching resource database on the 
history of the House. During the school year following their 
participation in the House Fellows Program, each Fellow is responsible 
for presenting his or her experience and lesson plans to at least one 
in-service institute for teachers of history and government.
  The House Fellows Program began in 2006, and today 120 teachers from 
across the country have participated in this innovative program. The 
Fellows experience an intensive weeklong seminar, of around fifty-five 
hours of program activities, centered around the history and practice 
of the House of Representatives. With plans to select a teacher from 
every Congressional district over the next several years, the House 
Fellows Program will impact hundreds of high school teachers and their 
students and will energize thousands of students to become informed and 
active citizens.
  As a former U.S. history teacher, I believe strongly in the 
importance of civic education. We must continue our efforts to get our 
youth involved in the political process in districts across the 
country. Educating teachers about the ``People's House'' is one of the 
best ways to do that.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in thanking 
Master Teachers Ms. Valerie Ziegler and Ms. Dodie Kasper for their hard 
work, dedication, leadership and cooperation with the Office of the 
Historian in making this past summer's House Fellows Program one of the 
most successful since its inception.

                          ____________________