PRINTER'S NO. 2503
No. 289 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, ARMSTRONG, M. BAKER, BARRAR, BASTIAN,
BENNINGHOFF, CLYMER, L. I. COHEN, DALLY, J. EVANS, FICHTER,
GODSHALL, HARHART, HERMAN, McGILL, MICOZZIE, PHILLIPS,
PICKETT, ROHRER, ROSS, RUBLEY, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCHULER,
STERN, T. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, B. SMITH, WOGAN AND HESS,
SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 25, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Commending the participants of "Pennsylvania Legislators Back to
2 School Week," September 17 through 21, 2001.
3 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania was established as a representative
4 democracy in which all governmental power is inherent in the
5 people, who exercise that power through legislative, executive
6 and judicial branches of government; and
7 WHEREAS, In recent years citizen interest in government and
8 knowledge of the political system has declined in part due to
9 weakening belief in and understanding of the virtues and
10 knowledge needed for a successful republican form of government;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, The Constitution of Pennsylvania declares that:
13 The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and
14 support of a thorough and efficient system of public
15 education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth;
1 and
2 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is comprised of more than 500 school
3 districts, with more than 5,500 schools educating students from
4 kindergarten through 12th grade; and
5 WHEREAS, The Governor has set a goal to "create a quality,
6 results-oriented educational system of lifetime learning which
7 provides all Pennsylvanians with skills and abilities to succeed
8 and excel in a rapidly changing world"; and
9 WHEREAS, Education is a primary concern of the Commonwealth
10 and the members of the House of Representatives, who are
11 instrumental in assuring the quality of Pennsylvania schools;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, The National Conference of State Legislatures has
14 noted that operations of state legislatures and the role of
15 individual legislators are often little understood by citizens
16 and that public understanding of the processes of government is
17 critical to building trust and confidence; and
18 WHEREAS, In light of the tragic attacks on the World Trade
19 Center and the Pentagon, the National Conference of State
20 Legislatures has decided to continue "America's Legislators Back
21 to School Week" programs to promote civic engagement and build
22 connections with students that will strengthen our democratic
23 society; and
24 WHEREAS, Civic education is vital to greater understanding of
25 legislative institutions and the role of legislators in a
26 representative democracy as well as interaction among
27 legislators, students, teachers and school administrators; and
28 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives supports civic
29 education to promote legislative institutions and the role of
30 legislators in a representative democracy; therefore be it
20010H0289R2503 - 2 -
1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the
2 participants of "Pennsylvania Legislators Back to School Week,"
3 September 17 through 21, 2001.
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