[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6516]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              CONGRATULATING THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

 Mr. COWAN. Mr. President, today I am delighted to recognize 
the Boston Children's Museum for receiving the National Medal for 
Museum and Library Service. I had the pleasure of congratulating the 
staff of the Boston Children's Museum earlier today before they headed 
to the White House to have the medal presented in a ceremony by the 
First Lady.
  This medal is the Nation's highest honor conferred on museums and 
libraries. The award is given to institutions which demonstrate 
extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service, exceeding 
the expected levels of community outreach. Out of 33 well-deserved 
finalists, only 10 were selected to receive the medal.
  The Boston Children's Museum is a center of family in Massachusetts 
and it comes as no surprise to me that this revered institution would 
receive the Nation's highest honor.
  Children spend their whole day learning, and Boston Children's Museum 
provides resources for families and educators to help support that 
continuous discovery. It provides a welcoming, imaginative, child 
centered learning environment that supports families and promotes the 
healthy development of all children.
  Boston Children's Museum is one of the oldest and largest children's 
museums in the world. It was founded in 1913 by a group of visionary 
educators as a center for the exchange of materials and ideas to 
advance the teaching of science. For the past century, the museum has 
provided children with opportunities to engage in joyful discovery 
experiences that instill an appreciation of our world, develop 
foundational skills, and spark a lifelong love of learning.
  The Museum has prided itself on developing exhibits and programs that 
emphasize hands on engagement and learning through experience. Children 
use play-based learning activities to spark their natural creativity 
and curiosity. The exhibits focus on science, culture, environmental 
awareness, health and fitness, and the arts. Museum educators also 
develop programs and activities that address literacy, performing arts, 
science and math, visual arts, cultures, and health and wellness.
  Boston Children's Museum is a pioneer in early childhood education 
and development and works with research partners to gain a deeper 
understanding of how children learn, and how they develop physically, 
intellectually, and socio-emotionally. The museum has teamed up with 
researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to create 
Play Lab--an exhibit featuring active research in cognitive 
development. They have also worked with Harvard University on research 
involving developmental studies and social cognition. Additionally, 
they have worked with researchers from Boston College to explore the 
psychology of the arts and children's understanding of emotional 
development.
  I would like to congratulate Carole Charnow, president and chief 
executive officer, and all the employees at the Boston Children's 
Museum on receiving the National Medal for Museum and Library Service.
  For 100 years, their outstanding efforts have inspired lifelong 
learning for generations of children and have served as a model for the 
Nation in early childhood education and development. I believe that the 
Boston Children's Museum will continue to be the best children's museum 
in the world and I look forward to the innovation and leadership they 
will deliver over the next 100 years.

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