[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17568]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 17568]]

             IN SUPPORT OF THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BERNARD SANDERS

                               of vermont

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 11, 2000

  Mr. SANDERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National History 
Day program. A basic knowledge of history is essential for our Nation's 
children to become informed participants in our democracy, and the 
National History Day program is promoting history education in Vermont 
and throughout our Nation.
  National History Day is a yearlong not-for-profit program in which 
students in grades 6-12 research and create historical projects related 
to a broad annual theme, culminating in an annual contest. It provides 
students the critical thinking and research skills used in all subject 
areas.
  I had the opportunity to meet with Vermont students who came to 
Washington for National History Day. This program encourages students 
to draw attention to important historical events that shaped their own 
hometowns as well as our Nation, and in the process it improves their 
writing, reading, and critical thinking skills. It gets students 
excited about learning, while teaching them skills that will help them 
throughout their lives.
  For its efforts to promote the National History Day program, I would 
like to commend the Vermont Historical Society. National History Day 
has had a significant impact in history and social studies classrooms 
in Vermont and across the country. But there is still much to be done. 
Many teachers are unable to take advantage of the National History Day 
program because of a lack of funding.
  I urge my colleagues to support funding for the National History Day 
program in the Fiscal Year 2000 Labor, Health and Human Services, and 
Education Appropriations legislation.

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