PRINTER'S NO. 1126
No. 973 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY MUSTO, HELFRICK, STOUT, BELAN, COSTA, O'PAKE,
SALVATORE, SLOCUM, SCHWARTZ, HART, KASUNIC AND ROBBINS,
MAY 12, 1999
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, MAY 12, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," further providing for the United
6 States Flag and patriotism.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 771 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
10 No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, amended January
11 8, 1952 (1951 P.L.1856, No.497), is amended to read:
12 Section 771. Display of United States Flag; Development of
13 Patriotism.--The board of school directors in each district
14 shall, when they are not otherwise provided, purchase a United
15 States flag, flagstaff, and the necessary appliances therefor,
16 and shall display said flag upon or near each public school
17 building in clement weather, during school hours, and at such
18 other times as the board may determine.
19 All boards of school directors, all proprietors or principals
1 of private schools, and all authorities in control of parochial
2 schools or other educational institutions, shall display the
3 United States national flag, not less than three feet in length,
4 within all school buildings under their control during each day
5 such schools are in session. In all public schools, the board of
6 school directors shall make all rules and necessary regulations
7 for the care and keeping of such flags. The expense thereof
8 shall be paid by the school district.
9 All supervising officers and teachers in charge of public,
10 private or parochial schools shall establish and direct the
11 conduct of appropriate daily instruction [or ceremonies,] or, in
12 lieu thereof, at least one full period per week, for the purpose
13 of affirming and developing allegiance to and respect for the
14 Flag of the United States of America, and for the promoting of a
15 clear understanding of our American way of life, with all of the
16 unparalleled individual opportunities, and our republican form
17 of government, with its responsiveness to majority decisions and
18 demands. Such elements shall be included in this program as
19 instruction in the fundamental principles of our form of
20 government, an understanding of the provisions of the
21 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the
22 Constitution of the United States of America, the values to be
23 found in the freedom of speech, of religion and of the press,
24 the values to be found in obedience to the laws of the land and
25 the Commonwealth, the importance of exercising the right of
26 franchise, the obligation of every citizen to stand ready to
27 defend our country at all times from infiltration or aggression
28 by those whose acts and ideologies are contrary to our American
29 philosophy of life.
30 All supervising officers and teachers in charge of public,
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1 private or parochial schools shall establish and direct the
2 conduct of an appropriate ceremony at the beginning of the
3 school day for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance or the
4 singing of the National Anthem.
5 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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