PRINTER'S NO. 2474
No. 286 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, BASTIAN, BUNT, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER,
L. I. COHEN, DEMPSEY, EGOLF, GEIST, GORDNER, HARHAI, HERSHEY,
HESS, KENNEY, LEDERER, MASLAND, McNAUGHTON, MELIO, METCALFE,
R. MILLER, S. MILLER, PETRARCA, PIPPY, PLATTS, READSHAW,
SATHER, SAYLOR, SCHULER, SEMMEL, SEYFERT, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY,
E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, TRUE, VAN HORNE, WALKO AND
YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 19, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, OCTOBER 19, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Reaffirming a commitment to preserving our American heritage.
2 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives joins the Sons of the
3 American Revolution in expressing its concern about the gap in
4 our children's education as it relates to the basic principles
5 of American history; and
6 WHEREAS, These basic principles of American history are
7 contained within the writings of our forefathers; and
8 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as the Keystone
9 State of the American nation and the birthplace of freedom at
10 Independence Hall, should be second to none in its appreciation
11 for the importance of kindling a new spirit of patriotism in our
12 school children; therefore be it
13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives reaffirm its
14 commitment to preserving our American heritage; and be it
15 further
1 RESOLVED, That all local school boards be urged to adopt
2 policies which allow and encourage all teachers and
3 administrators to read and post in any public school building or
4 classroom, or at any school event, excerpts or entire portions
5 of the following historical documents:
6 (1) The preamble to the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
7 (2) The Declaration of Independence.
8 (3) The Constitution of the United States.
9 (4) The Bill of Rights.
10 (5) The Mayflower Compact.
11 (6) The National Motto.
12 (7) The National Anthem.
13 (8) The Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag.
14 (9) The writings, speeches, documents and proclamations
15 of the Founding Fathers and the Presidents of the United
16 States.
17 (10) Organic documents from the pre-Colonial, Colonial,
18 Revolutionary, Federalist and post-Federalist eras.
19 (11) Decisions of the United States Supreme Court.
20 (12) Acts of the Congress of the United States;
21 and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That within the policies adopted by local school
23 boards there should be no content-based censorship of American
24 history or heritage due to religious or other references in the
25 writings, documents and records cited above; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be distributed to
27 the superintendent of each school district within this
28 Commonwealth, who shall thereupon provide a copy to each full-
29 time teacher, administrator and school board member in that
30 district.
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