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Congressional Record—Senate S3038 S3038 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 4, 2003 Senators on both sides of the aisle, but the 108th Congress have been encour- riculum in civics education. Today, it does give Members an opportunity to aged to speak up, and most of us have. more than half the States have no re- focus, as we just heard, on issues that But, with the encouragement of the quirement for students to take a are important to individual Senators majority leader and the assistant mi- course—even for one semester—in but also are important to the American nority leader, several of us intend also American government. people in the broadest sense. to try to revive the tradition of the To help put the teaching of American In this body, because we are always maiden address by a signature speech history and civics in its rightful place, on a particular piece of legislation or on an issue that is important both to today I introduce legislation on behalf in Executive Session, this gives us an the country and to each of us. I thank of myself and cosponsors, Senator REID opportunity to pause for a moment and my colleagues who are here, and I as- of Nevada, Senator GREGG, Senator shine that spotlight and that focus on sure all of you that I will not do what SANTORUM, Senator INHOFE, and Sen- an initial speech or discussion. the former Governor of Wisconsin did ator NICKLES. We call it the American I am delighted we are reaching to the and speak for 3 days. History and Civics Education Act. The past—not the distant past—to some- f purpose of the act is to create presi- thing we have gotten away from in the dential academies for teachers of last several Congresses, and as an ini- THE AMERICAN HISTORY AND American history and civics, and con- tiative by our new Senators are em- CIVICS EDUCATION ACT gressional academies for students of barking upon what I know will be a Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I American history and civics. These res- great and very meaningful and power- rise today to address the intersection idential academies would operate for 2 ful experience for all of us. of two urgent concerns that will deter- weeks, in the case of teachers, and 4 The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The mine our country’s future, and these weeks in the case of students, during Chair, in my capacity as the Senator are also the two topics I care about the the summertime. Their purpose would from Alaska, asks the floor staff to no- most, the education of our children and be to inspire better teaching and more tify me when such speeches are to be the principles that unite us as Ameri- learning of the key events, the key per- made of any Senator. cans. It is time we put the teaching of sons, and the key ideas that shape the Mr. REID. Mr. President, while the American history and civics back in its institutions and democratic heritage of majority leader is in the Chamber, I rightful place in our schools so our the United States. ask unanimous consent that the major- children can grow up learning what it I had some experience with such resi- ity be given a full hour—we have taken means to be an American. Especially dential summer academies when I was some time today—and the Democrats, during such serious times when our Governor of Tennessee. It was a good if necessary, extended 10 minutes also. values and ways of life are being at- experience. In 1984, we began creating I ask unanimous consent. tacked, we need to understand just governor’s schools for students and for The PRESIDENT pro tempore. With- what those values are. teachers. We had a Governor’s School out objection, it is so ordered. In this, most Americans would agree. for the Arts. We had a Governor’s The Chair recognizes the Senator For example, in Thanksgiving remarks School for International Studies at the from Tennessee. in 2001, President Bush praised our Na- University of Memphis, a Governor’s Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I tion’s response to September 11. ‘‘I call School for Teachers of Writing at the first thank the majority leader for his it,’’ he said, ‘‘the American character.’’ University of Tennessee at Knoxville, comments and his friendship and his At about the same time, speaking at which was very successful. Eventually encouragement of the new Senators in Harvard, former Vice President Al there were eight governor’s schools in these first addresses. I thank the Sen- Gore said, ‘‘We should fight for the val- our State, and they helped thousands ator from Nevada for his encourage- ues that bind us together as a coun- of Tennessee teachers improve their ment and his willingness to join me in try.’’ skills and inspired outstanding stu- cosponsoring the legislation that I Both men were invoking a creed of dents in the same way. When those hope to talk about. I thank my col- ideas and values in which most Ameri- teachers and students went back to leagues for taking the time to be here cans believe. ‘‘It has been our fate as a their own schools during the regular today. nation,’’ the historian Richard school year, their enthusiasm for From the Senate’s earliest days, new Hofstadter wrote, ‘‘not to have teaching and learning the subject they Members have observed, as we just ideologies but to be one.’’ This value- had been a part of in the summer in- heard, the ritual of remaining silent based identity has inspired both patri- fected their peers and improved edu- for a period of time, ranging from sev- otism and division at home as well as cation across the board. Dollar for dol- eral weeks to 2 years. By waiting a re- emulation and hatred abroad. For ter- lar, I believe the governor’s schools in spectful amount of time before giving rorists, as well as those who admire our State were the most effective pop- their so-called ‘‘maiden speeches,’’ America, at issue is the United States ular education initiatives in our freshmen Senators hoped their senior itself—not what we do but who we are. State’s history. colleagues would respect them for their Yet our children do not know what We weren’t the only State to try it; humility. makes America exceptional. National many did. The first State governor’s This information comes from our exams show that three-quarters of the school I heard about was in North Senate historian, Richard Baker, who Nation’s 4th, 8th, and 12th graders are Carolina, started by Terry Sanford told me that in 1906 the former Gov- not proficient in civics knowledge and when he was Governor in 1963, and then ernor of Wisconsin—I am sensitive to one-third do not even have basic other States have done the same— this as a former Governor—Robert La knowledge, making them ‘‘civic Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Follette, arrived here, in Mr. Baker’s illiterates.’’ Kentucky, and Tennessee. In 1973, words, ‘‘anything but humble.’’ He Children are not learning about Pennsylvania established the Gov- waited just 3 months, a brief period by American history and civics because ernor’s Schools of Excellence, with 14 the standards of those days, before they are not being taught them. Amer- different programs of study. Mississippi launching his first major address. He ican history has been watered down, has done the same. Virginia’s Gov- then spoke for 8 hours over 3 days and and civics is too often dropped from the ernor’s School is a summer residential his remarks in the CONGRESSIONAL curriculum entirely. program for 7,500 of the Common- RECORD consumed 148 pages. As he Until the 1960s, civics education, wealth’s most gifted students. Mis- began to speak, most of the Senators which teaches the duties of citizenship, sissippi and West Virginia also have present in the Chamber rose from their was a regular part of the high school similar programs. They are just a few desks and departed. La Follette’s wife, curriculum. But today’s college grad- of the more than 100 governor’s schools observing from the gallery, wrote: uates probably have less civic knowl- in 28 States. Clearly, the model has There was no mistaking that this was a po- edge than high school graduates of 50 proved to be a good one. lite form of hazing. years ago. Reforms, so-called, in the The legislation I propose today ap- From our first day here, as the ma- 1960s and 1970s, resulted in widespread plies that successful model to Amer- jority leader said, we new Members of elimination of required classes and cur- ican history and civics by establishing VerDate Jan 31 2003 01:42 Mar 05, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G04MR6.003 S04PT1 March 4, 2003 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3039 presidential and congressional acad- teaching and learning of those sub- new common school. McGuffey’s Read- emies for students and teachers of jects. er, which was used in many classrooms, those subjects. This proposed legislation takes the sold more than 120 million copies intro- The legislation would do one more next step by training teachers and en- ducing a common culture of literature, thing. It would authorize the creation couraging outstanding students. I am patriotic speeches and historical ref- of a national alliance of American his- pleased today that one of the leading erences. tory and civics teachers to be con- Members of the House of Representa- The wars of the 20th century made nected by the Internet.
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