PRINTER'S NO. 1113
No. 1011 Session of 1981
INTRODUCED BY PITTS, E. Z. TAYLOR, VROON AND E. H. SMITH,
MARCH 25, 1981
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 25, 1981
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 programs for
6 development of citizenship and patriotism.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 771, act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
10 No.14), known as the "Public School Code of 1949," amended
11 January 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 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
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1 Section 771.1. Program for Development of Citizenship and
2 Patriotism.--(a) All administrators and teachers in charge of
3 public and nonpublic schools shall establish and direct the
4 conduct of appropriate instruction, as a separate course, as
5 follows:
6 (1) Elementary grades: fifteen (15) minutes daily.
7 (2) Junior/Middle grades: one full period per week.
8 (3) Senior grades: one full period, classroom or assembly,
9 per month. Such instruction shall be for the purpose of
10 affirming and developing an allegiance to and respect for the
11 United States of America and its Flag, and for promoting a clear
12 understanding of our American way of life, with all unparalleled
13 individual opportunities, and our republican form of government,
14 with its responsiveness to majority decisions and demands, and
15 the collective and individual responsibilities of citizenship of
16 the United States of America.
17 (b) The program shall include:
18 (1) Instruction in the fundamental principals of our form of
19 government.
20 (2) An understanding of the provisions of the Constitution
21 of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of the United States of
22 America.
23 (3) The values to be found in the freedom of speech, of
24 religion and of the press.
25 (4) The values to be found in obedience to the laws of the
26 land and this Commonwealth.
27 (5) The importance of exercising the right of franchise.
28 (6) The obligation of every citizen to stand ready to defend
29 his country at all times from infiltration or aggression by
30 those whose acts are contrary to the American philosophy of
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1 life.
2 (c) The teacher providing the instruction shall voluntarily
3 sign the Pennsylvania Loyalty Oath and a statement attesting to
4 his willingness to provide instruction within the spirit of the
5 program as outlined in subsection (b).
6 (d) Each school entity shall notify the department the
7 manner in which the instructional requirements of this section
8 are being met and that the Loyalty Oath and the statement of the
9 teacher's willingness to instruct within the spirit of the
10 program have been signed and are on record at the school for
11 public inspection.
12 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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