PRINTER'S NO. 3919
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1026
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY HARPER, BOBACK, HENNESSEY, STAATS, NEILSON,
BIZZARRO, READSHAW, PICKETT, DUSH, SONNEY, DiGIROLAMO, JAMES,
RYAN, R. BROWN, ROEBUCK, MEHAFFIE, FREEMAN, VITALI, DRISCOLL,
LONGIETTI, BARRAR, SAYLOR, DEASY, JOZWIAK, MARSICO, MURT,
EVERETT AND CALTAGIRONE, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2018 as "Civic Education
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is where the constitutional
government for the United States of America began 231 years ago;
and
WHEREAS, In order to ensure that "the government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish" as so
eloquently stated by President Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg, it
is necessary to ensure that each succeeding generation of
Americans understands the principles of American self-governance
and the ideals and principles on which our representative
democracy is based and from which its institutions derive their
legitimacy and power; and
WHEREAS, National testing shows an unfortunate ignorance
among eighth grade students about civics, geography and American
history, while at the same time national polling shows that
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Americans strongly support the role of public schools in
teaching young people how to become responsible citizens; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth currently requires civic education
in the form of social studies from kindergarten through grade
12; and
WHEREAS, Act 35 of 2018, which adds a new section to the
Public School Code of 1949 regarding assessment of civic
knowledge, requires each school entity, beginning with the 2020-
2021 school year, to administer at least once to students in
grades seven through twelve a locally developed assessment of
United States history, government and civics that includes the
nature, purpose, principles and structure of United States
constitutional democracy, the principles, operations and
documents of United States Government and the rights and
responsibilities of citizenship; and
WHEREAS, American adults could also benefit from civic
education to encourage greater civic engagement and involvement
in our electoral and political process; and
WHEREAS, Civic education and participation in extracurricular
activities are indicators for future civic engagement and
involvement in our American democracy; and
WHEREAS, With high-quality civic education, students learn to
listen to differing points of view, take greater responsibility
for their own role in the government of "We the People" and work
toward improving their own communities; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of September 2018 as "Civic Education Awareness Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all
residents of this Commonwealth to celebrate efforts to educate
20180HR1026PN3919 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
and inform American citizens about their rights and
responsibilities and the importance of civic engagement.
20180HR1026PN3919 - 3 -
1
2