PRINTER'S NO. 3770
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
969
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY HARPER, FREEMAN, VEREB, ROSS, BRADFORD, WATSON,
BIZZARRO, SCHLOSSBERG, KILLION, TOOHIL, MACKENZIE, ROZZI,
READSHAW, JAMES, STAATS, MURT, MILLARD, LONGIETTI, KIM,
THOMAS, DRISCOLL, R. BROWN, O'NEILL, COHEN, SONNEY, DUSH,
CORBIN, CALTAGIRONE, O'BRIEN, WARD, MENTZER, KIRKLAND,
SAYLOR, MARSICO, PAYNE, DiGIROLAMO, MILNE, YOUNGBLOOD, KORTZ,
GILLEN, MAHONEY, EVERETT, DONATUCCI, MAJOR, GINGRICH AND
BOBACK, AUGUST 18, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
AUGUST 18, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of September 17 through 23, 2016, as "Civic
Education Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is where the constitutional
government for the United States of America began nearly 240
years ago; and
WHEREAS, In order to ensure that "the government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish" as so
eloquently stated by President Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, it
is necessary to ensure that each succeeding generation of
Americans understands the principles of American self-governance
and the ideals and principles on which our representative
democracy is based and from which its institutions derive their
legitimacy and power; and
WHEREAS, National testing shows an unfortunate ignorance
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among eighth grade students about civics, geography and American
history, while at the same time national polling shows that
Americans strongly support the role of public schools in
teaching young people how to become responsible citizens; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth currently requires civic education
in the form of social studies from kindergarten through grade
12; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Education is authorized to test
students for civic knowledge on the Keystone Exam once the
questions have been developed, making the importance of civic
education known in this Commonwealth and indicating the
seriousness with which the Department of Education views the
role of public schools in educating citizens on their rights and
responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, American adults could also benefit from civic
education to encourage greater civic engagement and involvement
in our electoral and political process; and
WHEREAS, Civic education and participation in extracurricular
activities are indicators for future civic engagement and
involvement in our American democracy; and
WHEREAS, With high-quality civic education, students learn to
listen to differing points of view, take greater responsibility
for their own role in the government of "We the People" and work
toward improving their own communities; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
week of September 17 through 23, 2016, as "Civic Education
Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania and urge all residents of this
Commonwealth to celebrate efforts to educate and inform American
citizens about their rights and responsibilities and the
importance of civic engagement.
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