PRINTER'S NO. 3387
No. 450 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY L. I. COHEN, ARGALL, ARMSTRONG, BARRAR, BEBKO-
JONES, BELARDI, BENNINGHOFF, BISHOP, BROWNE, BUNT,
CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CLYMER, M. COHEN, CORRIGAN, CRUZ,
CURRY, DALEY, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS,
FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FICHTER, FORCIER, GEIST, GEORGE, GODSHALL,
HARHAI, HARHART, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HERSHEY, HUTCHINSON,
JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LESCOVITZ, MAJOR, MANDERINO,
MANN, MARSICO, McGILL, MELIO, MICHLOVIC, S. MILLER, MUNDY,
PICKETT, PIPPY, PISTELLA, PRESTON, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS,
RUBLEY, SANTONI, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCHRODER, SCHULER, STABACK,
STURLA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, TRICH, WALKO,
WASHINGTON, WATERS, WATSON, WOJNAROSKI, M. WRIGHT, G. WRIGHT,
ZUG, R. MILLER AND McILHATTAN, MARCH 11, 2002
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 11, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating March 2002 as "Arts in Education Month" and March
2 26, 2002, as "Arts in Education Day" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The arts enrich so many aspects of our lives,
4 including education, business, the built environment and the
5 quality of our homes and communities; and
6 WHEREAS, The arts evoke our creative spirit, moving us to
7 explore, imagine, and reflect, and promote the emotional,
8 mental, physical and spiritual well-being of all Pennsylvanians;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, It is through the arts that we discover the full
11 potential of our human creativity and the expression of
12 compassion for citizens of our country in their time of need;
1 and
2 WHEREAS, The arts allow us to accentuate self-expression and
3 communicate our thoughts, emotions and beliefs as individuals,
4 communities and cultures in diverse media, presenting them for
5 the viewing and enjoyment of others; and
6 WHEREAS, Citizens rely on the arts to transcend cultural
7 barriers, to evoke universal emotions and to teach us of the
8 diverse society in which we live; and
9 WHEREAS, The arts encourage us to develop empathy and a
10 common understanding of ourselves as Pennsylvanians and as
11 Americans; and
12 WHEREAS, It is both our good fortune and our responsibility
13 to sustain the gift of art, to enjoy it, to share it, to build
14 upon it and to pass it on to future generations; and
15 WHEREAS, Arts education has been demonstrated to develop
16 discipline, creativity and the cognitive and social skills that
17 effectively prepare students for life and work in the 21st
18 century; and
19 WHEREAS, Arts education, as expressed in the proposed
20 academic standards for the arts and humanities, allows students
21 to examine and appreciate the arts of our culture and other
22 cultures; and
23 WHEREAS, Education of our children is the foundation of our
24 Commonwealth's and country's future; and
25 WHEREAS, Arts education programs in our schools enable young
26 men and women to realize their own talents and to understand and
27 appreciate existing art forms; and
28 WHEREAS, With proper instruction and enthusiasm, our children
29 can find joy, self-confidence and self-worth in expression of
30 their artistic interests; and
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1 WHEREAS, Arts educators and artists-in-education foster
2 knowledge and awareness of the importance of the arts in all of
3 our lives and contribute to the values and principles of our
4 Commonwealth through the use of the arts; therefore be it
5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend school
6 arts educators and thank them for their service to our children
7 and to our Commonwealth; and be it further
8 RESOLVED, That every child in this Commonwealth receive a
9 well-rounded education including an extensive, high-quality
10 program of the arts taught by certified arts specialists; and be
11 it further
12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives declare March
13 2002 as "Arts in Education Month" and March 26, 2002, as "Arts
14 in Education Day" in Pennsylvania.
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