PRINTER'S NO. 1081
No. 984 Session of 1987
INTRODUCED BY PITTS, VROON, BIRMELIN, CLYMER, BARLEY, PHILLIPS,
SCHULER, SIRIANNI, MICOZZIE, TRELLO, FLICK, ROBBINS, FISCHER,
SCHEETZ, SEMMEL, JOHNSON, LANGTRY, HAYES, COY, STABACK,
BELFANTI, CARLSON, CESSAR, GEIST, BUNT, GLADECK, NAHILL,
B. SMITH, E. Z. TAYLOR, KASUNIC, REBER, SAURMAN, HERMAN, BURD
AND PERZEL, APRIL 6, 1987
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 6, 1987
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," further providing for courses of
6 study; and making an editorial change.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1605(a) of the act of March 10, 1949
10 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
11 amended September 20, 1961 (P.L.1530, No.650), is amended to
12 read:
13 Section 1605. Courses of Study.--(a) In all public, private
14 or parochial schools, there shall be integrated in the social
15 studies curriculum courses of study as provided in this act. It
16 shall be the duty of the superintendent having supervision over
17 any high school to prepare, and recommend to the board of school
18 directors maintaining the same, suitable courses of study, which
1 shall be adopted by said board of school directors, with such
2 changes as they may deem wise, subject to the provisions of this
3 act. During grades seven through twelve inclusive, there shall
4 be included at least four semesters or equivalent study [in]
5 specifically devoted to the history and government of that
6 portion of America which has become the United States of
7 America, and of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, of such
8 nature, kind or quality, as to have for its purpose the
9 developing, teaching and presentation of the principles and
10 ideals of the American republican representative form of
11 government, as portrayed and experienced by the acts and
12 policies of the framers of the Declaration of Independence and
13 framers of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of
14 Rights. The study of the history of the United States, including
15 the study of the Constitution of the United States and the study
16 of the history and Constitution of this Commonwealth, shall also
17 be such as will emphasize the good, worthwhile and best features
18 and points of the social, economic and cultural development, the
19 growth of the American family life, high standard of living of
20 the United States citizen, the privileges enjoyed by such
21 citizens, their heritage and its derivations of and in our
22 principles of government. Such instruction shall have for its
23 purpose also the instilling into every boy and girl who comes
24 out of our public, private and parochial schools their solemn
25 duty and obligation to exercise intelligently their voting
26 privilege and to understand the advantages of the American
27 republican form of government as compared with various other
28 forms of government.
29 Such instruction shall continue in courses in the State
30 Colleges to an extent to be determined by the [Superintendent of
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1 Public Instruction] Secretary of Education.
2 * * *
3 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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