American History and Civics Education Act of 2004

AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS EDUCATION ACT OF 2004 -- (House of Representatives - November 19, 2004)

Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5360) to authorize grants to establish academies for teachers and students of American history and civics, and for other purposes, as amended.

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Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friend from Delaware as well as my friend from California for their remarks so far in this debate. I also want to thank the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), who, Mr. Speaker, has been enormously patient and helpful to me during this year-long effort to promote better knowledge of American history and civics. Thanks also goes to the ranking member of the full committee as well as the entire House leadership. I am very appreciative.

Mr. Speaker, we meet today in a Chamber that exhibits a magnificent portrait of George Washington just to my left. We meet at a location actually selected by George Washington, the father of our country. Just above the Speaker's podium is a profound quote from another of our distinguished patriots, Daniel Webster. We are governed today by rules promulgated in part by Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and another of our great founders.

In that atmosphere, Mr. Speaker, it is perhaps hard for us to imagine that not everyone in our country shares our appreciation for this great system of government and this wonderful tradition and history of freedom and independence that we have in America or has even a rudimentary knowledge of that great system of government. Yet, sadly, as I talk to my colleagues about this issue, they have observed the same thing as they travel around the country that I have: an appalling, even shocking, lack of knowledge about American history and our American system. This is particularly true among our young people.

Just a few facts, Mr. Speaker. Sixty-two percent of Americans today cannot name the three branches of the Federal Government. An examination was given to seniors in 55 of our Nation's top colleges and universities, including Brown, Harvard and Princeton. The exam contained 34 questions, multiple choice, testing a high school level of proficiency on American history. Some 81 percent of the seniors in these colleges received either a D or an F on these examinations. Seventy-five percent of our high school seniors are not proficient in American history and civics, and one-third lack even a basic knowledge of this subject matter.

Part of the reason for this, Mr. Speaker, is that the curriculum at these same 55 elite universities does not require an American history course for graduation and 78 percent require no history credit at all to graduate from the best colleges and universities in our land. As a result of this fact, over one-half of our high school history teachers received their college degrees in subjects other than history.

This is not their fault, Mr. Speaker. This is simply a fact which we are trying to address today.

Simply put, what this bill does, as my friend from Delaware stated, is to authorize the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants from existing funds for summer academies that would promote civics and history education. The grants would be available to colleges and universities, to museums, libraries, nonprofit organizations, some of which are already engaged in this type of activity, and other entities that can demonstrate the capability to enhance the subject matter.

The sessions for teachers would focus on new ideas and more creative ways to communicate the history and civics curriculum to students. It would not dictate a curriculum. Separate academies for students would provide a unique and more comprehensive look at the important subjects of civics and education.

I would say to the Members in closing, Mr. Speaker, that this legislation has the support of a wide spectrum of Americans, from Paul Weyrich and Bill Bennett on the right, to Senator TED KENNEDY at the other end of the political spectrum. I think it simply demonstrates this: that knowledge and understanding of America and Americanism really has no ideology.

I again express my thanks to the leadership of the committee and of House of Representatives, and I urge a "yes" vote on the bill.

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