[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Pages 32287-32288]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      THE FIRST ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL CONFERENCE ON CIVIC EDUCATION

  Mr. DASCHLE. There is a great, possibly prophetic, story from the end 
of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. For weeks, delegates to the 
convention had labored in the Philadelphia heat to draft a 
Constitution. Every day, crowds waited outside Independence Hall for 
any news of their progress. Finally, a draft was agreed upon. As 
Benjamin Franklin emerged from the hall, a woman asked, ``Dr. Franklin, 
what have you given us: A monarchy? Or a republic?'' Franklin famously 
replied, ``A republic--if you can keep it.''
  Some of our founders would, no doubt, be surprised that we have 
indeed managed to keep this republic they dared to imagine and create 
more than 200 years ago.
  What has enabled the United States to become the world's oldest 
surviving democracy is more than luck. It is more, even, than divine 
providence. It is also the result of deliberate work and effort by 
generations of Americans to understand and protect the principles on 
which our nation was founded, and to pass those lessons on, 
undiminished, to future generations.
  That is the heart of what we mean by ``civic education.''
  I know the majority leader shares my belief that Congress has an 
important role to play in ensuring that civic education in America 
remains strong and vital and that it reaches all Americans. For that 
reason, it was an honor for both of us, along with many of our 
colleagues, to attend the First Annual Congressional Conference on 
Civic Education from September 20th to the 22nd of this year, in 
Washington, D.C.
  The conference brought together education and civic leaders and 
others from all 50 States and the District of Columbia and gave them an 
opportunity to compare notes about what is happening in their States to 
strengthen civic education. Each State team also adopted a State action 
plan, which they will implement before the Second Annual Conference, 
which will be held in December 2004, also in Washington. I have the 
South Dakota State action plan, which I ask unanimous consent to have 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

           Civic Education Plan for the State of South Dakota

       Members of the South Dakota delegation, who attended the 
     First Annual Conference On Civic Education in Washington D.C. 
     in September 2003, have devised a plan for analyzing and 
     improving civic education in the state. The South Dakota 
     delegation comprised of Glenna Fouberg. President of the 
     South Dakota State Board of Education, Representative Gerry 
     Lange, Jack Lyons, Chair of the South Dakota Humanities 
     Council, Bob Sutton, Executive Director of the South Dakota 
     Community Foundation, and Senator Drue Vitter have planned a 
     conference entitled ``Dialogue On Civic Education in South 
     Dakota.'' This event will take place in the capital building 
     in Pierre on November 10, 2003.
       A variety of state educators and state administrators have 
     been invited to attend the conference that will focus on a 
     historic overview of civic education, the current status of 
     civic education, state certification requirements and teacher 
     preparation, and successful programs. Members of the S.D. 
     delegation will act as panelists for the event. Plenty of 
     time will be allowed for observations and questions from 
     those attending the conference.
       The S.D. delegation has tentative plans for a follow-up 
     conference to be held in the state in either the spring or 
     summer. This event probably would be held in the Eastern part 
     of the state.
       The South Dakota delegation hopes to convey to its 
     conference attendees the enthusiasm that they encountered at 
     the Washington conference for improving and revitalizing 
     civic education in the nation and the state.

  Mr. FRIST. I was very pleased to join the distinguished Senator from 
South Dakota, Senator Daschle, and our leadership colleagues in the 
House of Representatives in hosting Congress's first Civic Education 
conference.
  On behalf of the entire Senate, I want to recognize and thank the 
cosponsors of the first conference, the Alliance for Democracy and its 
members: the Center for Civic Education, the Center on the Congress at 
Indiana University and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
  It is my understanding that there will be a total of five 
Congressional Conferences on Civic Education. These conferences will 
enable us to give civic education and civic participation the 
sustained, national attention they deserve but have not always gotten.
  It is our hope to explore, at these annual conferences, the critical 
role civic education plays in promoting civic participation--which is 
really the lifeblood of any democracy.
  We also want to find new and better ways to work with schools and 
with education leaders to create first-rate citizenship education 
programs in our nation's schools. I know this is an interest that the 
Senator from South Dakota shares.
  I think this first conference provided an excellent start on that 
goal. I ask unanimous consent to have the State action plan for my 
State of Tennessee printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            Civic Education Plan for the State of Tennessee

       ``Civic education should be a central purpose of education 
     essential to the well-being of representative democracy.''
       ``Civic education should be seen as a core subject. Well-
     defined state standards and curricular requirements are 
     necessary to ensure civic education is taught effectively at 
     each grade level.''
       ``Policies that support `Quality teacher education and 
     professional development' are important to insure effective 
     classroom instruction and raise student achievement.''
       ``Classroom programs that foster an understanding of 
     fundamental constitutional principles through . . . service 
     learning, discussion of current events, or simulations . . . 
     are essential to civic education.''

  Mr. FRIST. With these four principles in mind, the Tennessee 
delegation has made the following Tennessee State Action Plan:

       Reconvene in Tennessee to discuss further plans, an early 
     December meeting is planned to include the entire delegation.
       A follow-up meeting will include each delegate bringing 
     ``to the table'' persons of influence that will help deliver 
     our mission reviving ``Civics in the Classroom.''
       Janis Kyser and Rep. Joe Towns will attend a Youth For 
     Justice meeting to help with organizing a 501c3 organization 
     to serve as a statewide clearing house for LRE services; 
     Conduct an intensive state-wide LRE survey to determine what 
     is happening, what needs to happen and where are the gaps in 
     service; Plan and conduct a Statewide LRE conference.
       Tennessee Delegation: Ms. Janis Kyser, State Facilitator; 
     Senator Randy McNally, Tennessee State Senate; Representative 
     Beth Harwell, Tennessee House of Representatives; 
     Representative Joe Towns, Jr., Tennessee House of 
     Representatives; Mr. Richard Ray, Chairman State School 
     Board; Mr. Bruce Opie, Legislative Liaison, Tennessee 
     Department of Education; Dr. Ashley Smith Jr., President 
     Tennessee Middle School Association.

  Mr. DASCHLE. I share the Majority Leader's belief that schools are 
critical in this effort. We must do a better job of educating our 
children to be the productive and involved citizens that our democracy, 
our country, needs.
  Mr. FRIST. The Senator from South Dakota is correct. There are other 
important partners as well.
  Democracy isn't something that just happens to us. It's something 
each of us must actively create. Citizenship gives us rights, but it 
also gives us responsibilities. Each of us has a responsibility to 
understand the great principles on which our great country was

[[Page 32288]]

founded. Each of us has a responsibility to participate in the process 
of self-government.
  It is an essential balance: rights and responsibilities. When we 
neglect either side of that equation, our democracy is in trouble.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I agree with the Senator from Tennessee. It's not enough 
for the principles of our democracy to be known by only a few. That's 
not American democracy. In order to have a strong, vibrant democracy, 
everyone has to participate. Everyone has to know the history and the 
rules. We all need to learn not just names and dates, but the process 
of democracy. We also need to develop new and better ways to keep 
adults informed and involved in the civic life of their communities and 
of our nation.
  Our nation faces grave, new challenges today. The very real threat of 
terrorism is forcing us to examine the balance between liberty and 
security. How do ``we the people'' respond to terrorism? How do ``we 
the people'' operate in an increasingly global world? In a world in 
which we are inundated with information of all kinds, how do we assure 
that people get the information they need to make informed decisions 
about our democracy and our future? These are the kinds of questions 
that future Congressional Conferences on Civic Education can explore.
  Mr. FRIST. My friend is correct. The challenges and questions our 
nation faces today are different than those faced by our founders. But 
they are, in many ways, just as profound.
  The great principles of democracy are what unify us as a people and 
bind us together as a nation. They are what gives us the strength to 
face the challenges of a complex world as one people. And, as my friend 
noted, they are what has made it possible for us to preserve the 
miracle of Philadelphia and keep our republic for more than two 
centuries.
  I look forward to working with the distinguished democratic leader 
and with our colleagues in the House leadership to prepare for next 
year's conference. I also look forward to working with my fellow 
Tennesseans to see that our State produces an outstanding State action 
plan before that conference.
  Mr. DASCHLE. I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record 
the Conference Statement and join the majority leader in encouraging 
all of our colleagues to lend their support to this Congressionally-
sponsored effort to dramatically improve civic education and civic 
participation in America.

  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 Conference Statement--First Annual Congressional Conference on Civic 
                               Education

       The participants at the First Annual Congressional 
     Conference on Civic Education acknowledge that there is an 
     urgent need to address the low level of civic engagement in 
     America. We recognize that:
       Civic knowledge and engagement are essential to maintaining 
     our representative democracy. While many institutions help to 
     develop Americans' civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions, 
     schools must have the capacity to prepare students for 
     engaged citizenship. Civic education should be a central 
     purpose of education essential to the well-being of 
     representative democracy.
       Civic education should be seen as a core subject. Well-
     defined state standards and curricular requirements are 
     necessary to ensure that civic education is taught 
     effectively at each grade level from kindergarten through 
     12th grade. Strengthening the civic mission of schools must 
     be a shared responsibility of the public and private sectors 
     at the community, local, state, and national levels.
       Policies that support quality teacher education and 
     professional development are important to ensure effective 
     classroom instruction and raise student achievement.
       Well-designed classroom programs that foster an 
     understanding of fundamental constitutional principles 
     through methods such as service learning, discussion of 
     current events, or simulations of democratic processes and 
     procedures are essential to civic education.
       In recognition of these findings, we resolve to take action 
     to reaffirm the historic civic mission of our schools.
       Adopted by the Delegates to the First Congressional 
     Conference on Civic Education, September 22, 2003, in 
     Washington, D.C.

                          ____________________