PRINTER'S NO. 3397
No. 597 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY PICKETT, ALLEN, ARGALL, BAKER, BALDWIN, BARRAR,
BEBKO-JONES, BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, BROWNE, BUNT, CAPPELLI,
CLYMER, CORRIGAN, COY, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, CURRY, DALEY, DALLY,
DENLINGER, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS,
FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, FLICK, FORCIER, FREEMAN, GABIG,
GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOOD, GOODMAN, GRUCELA,
HARHAI, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HORSEY,
HUTCHINSON, JAMES, KENNEY, LEACH, LEDERER, LEH, LESCOVITZ,
LEWIS, MAITLAND, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MARKOSEK, McCALL,
McGEEHAN, McGILL, McILHATTAN, MILLARD, S. MILLER, MUSTIO,
NAILOR, PETRI, PHILLIPS, PRESTON, READSHAW, REED, ROEBUCK,
ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SANTONI, SATHER, SAYLOR,
SHANER, B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, R. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR,
THOMAS, TIGUE, TRUE, WANSACZ, WATERS, WATSON AND WEBER,
MARCH 15, 2004
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 15, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating March 2004 as "Arts in Education Month" and March
2 16, 2004, as "Arts in Education Day" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The arts enrich so many aspects of our lives,
4 including education, business, the built environment and the
5 quality of our homes and communities; and
6 WHEREAS, The arts evoke our creative spirit, moving us to
7 explore, imagine, and reflect, and they promote the emotional,
8 mental, physical and spiritual well-being of all Pennsylvanians;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, It is through the arts that we discover the full
11 potential of our human creativity and express compassion for our
1 fellow citizens in times of need; and
2 WHEREAS, The arts allow us to accentuate self-expression and
3 communicate our thoughts, emotions, beliefs and values as
4 individuals, communities and cultures in diverse media,
5 presenting them for the viewing and enjoyment of others; and
6 WHEREAS, Citizens rely on the arts to transcend cultural
7 barriers, evoke universal emotions and reveal the diverse
8 society in which we live; and
9 WHEREAS, The arts encourage us to develop empathy and a
10 common understanding of ourselves as Pennsylvanians and as
11 Americans; and
12 WHEREAS, It is our good fortune and our responsibility to
13 sustain the gift of art, to enjoy it, to share it, to build upon
14 it and to pass it on to future generations; and
15 WHEREAS, Arts education has been demonstrated to develop
16 discipline, creativity and the cognitive and social skills that
17 effectively prepare students for life and work in the 21st
18 century; and
19 WHEREAS, Arts education as expressed in the newly adopted
20 academic standards for the arts and humanities allows students
21 to examine and appreciate the arts of our culture and other
22 cultures and to explore the expanding scope of the arts and its
23 relationship with other disciplines; and
24 WHEREAS, Arts education programs in our schools enable young
25 people to realize their talents and share their gifts with
26 others; and
27 WHEREAS, With proper instruction and enthusiasm, our children
28 can find joy, self-confidence and self-worth in expression of
29 their artistic interests; and
30 WHEREAS, Arts educators and artists in education foster
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1 knowledge and awareness of the importance of the arts in our
2 lives and contribute to the values and principles of our
3 Commonwealth through the arts; therefore be it
4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, recognizing the
5 service of school arts educators to our children and our
6 Commonwealth and the need of every child in this Commonwealth
7 for a well-rounded education including an extensive, high-
8 quality program of the arts taught by certified arts
9 specialists, designate March 2004 as "Arts in Education Month"
10 and March 16, 2004, as "Arts in Education Day" in Pennsylvania.
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