PRINTER'S NO. 1397
No. 1185 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY COY, COLAFELLA, E. Z. TAYLOR, GALLAGHER,
D. R. WRIGHT, COLE, McHALE, BATTISTO AND FREIND, MAY 13, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 13, 1985
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 courses of study in
6 local voting procedures in public schools; and making an
7 editorial change.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Section 1605(a) of the act of March 10, 1949
11 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
12 amended September 20, 1961 (P.L.1530, No.650), is amended to
13 read:
14 Section 1605. Courses of Study.--(a) In all public, private
15 or parochial schools, there shall be integrated in the social
16 studies curriculum courses of study as provided in this act. It
17 shall be the duty of the superintendent having supervision over
18 any high school to prepare, and recommend to the board of school
19 directors maintaining the same, suitable courses of study, which
20 shall be adopted by said board of school directors, with such
1 changes as they may deem wise, subject to the provisions of this
2 act. During grades seven through twelve inclusive, there shall
3 be included at least four semesters or equivalent study in the
4 history and government of that portion of America which has
5 become the United States of America, and of the Commonwealth of
6 Pennsylvania, of such nature, kind or quality, as to have for
7 its purpose the developing, teaching and presentation of the
8 principles and ideals of the American republican representative
9 form of government, as portrayed and experienced by the acts and
10 policies of the framers of the Declaration of Independence and
11 framers of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of
12 Rights. The study of the history of the United States, including
13 the study of the Constitution of the United States and the study
14 of the history and Constitution of this Commonwealth, shall also
15 be such as will emphasize the good, worthwhile and best features
16 and points of the social, economic and cultural development, the
17 growth of the American family life, high standard of living of
18 the United States citizen, the privileges enjoyed by such
19 citizens, their heritage and its derivations of and in our
20 principles of government. Such instruction shall have for its
21 purpose also the instilling into every boy and girl who comes
22 out of our public, private and parochial schools their solemn
23 duty and obligation to exercise intelligently their voting
24 privilege and to understand the advantages of the American
25 republican form of government as compared with various other
26 forms of government.
27 Such instruction shall continue in courses in the State
28 Colleges to an extent to be determined by the [Superintendent of
29 Public Instruction] Secretary of Education.
30 In all public schools, there shall be offered courses of
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1 study in local voting procedures for the district in which the
2 school is located, including study of the procedures followed in
3 the county in which the school is located.
4 * * *
5 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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