PRINTER'S NO. 1064

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

182

Session of

2017

INTRODUCED BY NEUMAN, DEAN, READSHAW, YOUNGBLOOD, HARKINS,

TOOHIL, BIZZARRO, WATSON, MACKENZIE, O'BRIEN, SCHLOSSBERG,

DRISCOLL, LONGIETTI, MILLARD, MATZIE, SOLOMON, JAMES, MURT,

Designating the week of April 23 through 29, 2017, as "STEAM

Initiative Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, STEAM is an acronym for science, technology,

engineering, art and mathematics, and refers to an educational

curriculum that is based on these subject areas; and

WHEREAS, STEAM education has as its integral design concept

the idea that creative and critical thinking skills are greatly

enhanced and further developed through exposure to the arts,

which has high value in contributing to success in technical

WHEREAS, STEAM education allows students to enter the job

market well prepared to obtain employment that provides a

family-sustaining wage, which results in the enhancement of this

Commonwealth's economic competitiveness in the global

marketplace; and

WHEREAS, There is a "STEM to STEAM" movement that involves

promoting the educational philosophy that adds "A" for "Art" to

STEM, thereby creating the acronym STEAM; and

WHEREAS, The "STEM to STEAM" movement recognizes the

essential role that art and design play in enhancing STEM

effectiveness in the workplace; and

WHEREAS, The objectives of the "STEM to STEAM" movement are

to encourage integration of art and design in education for

students in kindergarten through post-secondary education, to

transform research policy in order to place art and design at

the center of STEM and to influence employers to hire artists

and designers in order to drive innovation; and

WHEREAS, Including art and design in the making of a STEM

product addresses the aesthetics of the product, making it much

more visually appealing and creatively developed; and

WHEREAS, Artists and designers play an integral role in the

development of modern technology and in manufacturing as the

tools and methods of design offer new models for creative

problem solving and interdisciplinary partnerships; and

WHEREAS, Art and design provide real, effective and practical

solutions for our everyday lives, serve to distinguish American

products in a global marketplace and create opportunities for

economic growth; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives recognizes the

importance of the STEM Education Coalition in promoting

WHEREAS, The STEM Education Coalition works to inspire

students, especially those of disadvantaged groups, women and

veterans, and urges a broad platform of students to obtain the

knowledge and professional skills necessary to obtain STEM-based

careers; and

WHEREAS, In order to foster innovation and provide this

Commonwealth and our nation with a competitive edge in the 21st

century global economy, it is necessary to support educational

and entrepreneurial growth in both the scientific and creative

spheres; therefore be it

Education Coalition for its outstanding efforts to increase

awareness of the critical need for quality education in science,

technology, engineering and mathematics, which are essential for

the future success of the economy of this Commonwealth and the

United States; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives support the

educational philosophy that involves adding art to STEM

education to create STEAM, as reflected in the "STEM to STEAM"

movement, and promote the enhancement of a quality STEAM

education for students in this Commonwealth; and be it further

the economy.