PRINTER'S NO. 3946
No. 574 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, RUBLEY, HERSHEY, PIPPY, SEMMEL, STURLA,
FORCIER, CURRY, LAUGHLIN, READSHAW, MAYERNIK, COSTA, MASLAND,
WALKO, BASTIAN, WILLIAMS, E. Z. TAYLOR, SATHER AND HARHAI,
SEPTEMBER 26, 2000
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 26, 2000
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing "Pennsylvania Legislators Back to School Day."
2 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania was created as a representative
3 democracy in which all governmental power is inherent in the
4 people who exercise that power through the legislative,
5 executive and judicial branches; and
6 WHEREAS, In recent years, citizen interest in government and
7 knowledge of the political system has declined in part due to a
8 weakening belief in and lack of understanding of the virtues and
9 knowledge needed for a successful republican form of government;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, Pennsylvanian Benjamin Franklin set a precedent for
12 a high standard of education by proposing and establishing the
13 nation's first secular college in Philadelphia; and
14 WHEREAS, Education is a primary concern to the Commonwealth
15 of Pennsylvania and particularly its members of the House of
16 Representatives, who are instrumental in assuring the quality of
1 Pennsylvania's schools; and
2 WHEREAS, The National Conference of State Legislatures, in
3 sponsoring "America's Legislators Back to School Day," passed a
4 resolution noting that the operations of the state legislatures
5 and the role of individual legislators are often little
6 understood by citizens and that public understanding of the
7 institutions and processes of the government is critical to
8 building trust and confidence; and
9 WHEREAS, On August 25, 2000, Governor Thomas J. Ridge signed
10 a proclamation recognizing "Legislators Back to School Day" and
11 proclaiming September as "Pennsylvania Goes Back to School
12 Month"; and
13 WHEREAS, On September 15, 2000, more than 125 members of the
14 House of Representatives joined with their colleagues from
15 around the nation to participate in "America's Legislators Back
16 to School Day"; and
17 WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania this event was organized in
18 cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the
19 Pennsylvania Associations of Elementary and Secondary School
20 Principals and the Pennsylvania Association of School
21 Administrators; and
22 WHEREAS, This event focused on familiarizing our young
23 citizens, the State's future leaders and voters, with the
24 legislative process and promoting a greater understanding of our
25 democratic system of governance; and
26 WHEREAS, Legislators benefit from interacting with students,
27 teachers and administrators, and the House of Representatives
28 supports civic education as a means to foster greater
29 understanding of legislative institutions and the role of
30 legislators within representative democracy; therefore be it
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1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize
2 September 15, 2000, as "Pennsylvania Legislators Back to School
3 Day"; commend those members who participated in the important
4 educational activity; thank those organizations who partnered
5 with the General Assembly in organizing this event; express its
6 appreciation to staff and interns from the House of
7 Representatives whose efforts helped make this event a success;
8 and express its gratitude to school districts throughout this
9 Commonwealth who hosted members of the House of Representatives
10 for this special activity.
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