PRINTER'S NO. 757
No. 680 Session of 1983
INTRODUCED BY PERZEL, APRIL 6, 1983
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 6, 1983
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," providing for the display of the flag
6 during labor disputes; and providing penalties.
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.--(a) 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 (b) (1) The United States flag shall be displayed as
1 required by subsection (a) on each school day during a labor
2 dispute involving all or part of the school district, regardless
3 of whether pupils are attending classes.
4 (2) Any person who interferes with the raising, display or
5 lowering of the United States flag upon school property commits
6 a summary offense and shall pay a fine of five hundred dollars
7 ($500) or be imprisoned for ten (10) days, or both.
8 (c) All boards of school directors, all proprietors or
9 principals of private schools, and all authorities in control of
10 parochial schools or other educational institutions, shall
11 display the United States national flag, not less than three
12 feet in length, within all school buildings under their control
13 during each day such schools are in session. In all public
14 schools, the board of school directors shall make all rules and
15 necessary regulations for the care and keeping of such flags.
16 The expense thereof shall be paid by the school district.
17 (d) All supervising officers and teachers in charge of
18 public, private or parochial schools shall establish and direct
19 the conduct of appropriate daily instruction or ceremonies, or,
20 in lieu thereof, at least one full period per week, for the
21 purpose of affirming and developing allegiance to and respect
22 for the Flag of the United States of America, and for the
23 promoting of a clear understanding of our American way of life,
24 with all of the unparalleled individual opportunities, and our
25 republican form of government, with its responsiveness to
26 majority decisions and demands. Such elements shall be included
27 in this program as instruction in the fundamental principles of
28 our form of government, an understanding of the provisions of
29 the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the
30 Constitution of the United States of America, the values to be
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1 found in the freedom of speech, of religion and of the press,
2 the values to be found in obedience to the laws of the land and
3 the Commonwealth, the importance of exercising the right of
4 franchise, the obligation of every citizen to stand ready to
5 defend our country at all times from infiltration or aggression
6 by those whose acts and ideologies are contrary to our American
7 philosophy of life.
8 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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