PRINTER'S NO. 4502
No. 829 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, JULY 1, 2006
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JULY 1, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of September 18 through 22, 2006, as
2 "Pennsylvania Legislators Back to School Week" and
3 encouraging members of the House of Representatives to
4 participate in the event.
5 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania was established as a representative
6 democracy in which all governmental power is inherent in the
7 people, who exercise that power through legislative, executive
8 and judicial branches of government; and
9 WHEREAS, In recent years citizen interest in government and
10 knowledge of the political system has declined in part due to
11 weakening belief in and understanding of the virtues and
12 knowledge needed for a successful republican form of government;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, The Constitution of Pennsylvania declares that:
15 The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and
16 support of a thorough and efficient system of public
17 education to serve the needs of the Commonwealth;
18 and
1 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is comprised of more than 500 school
2 districts, with more than 5,500 schools educating students from
3 kindergarten through 12th grade; and
4 WHEREAS, Education is a primary concern of the Commonwealth
5 and the members of the House of Representatives, who are
6 instrumental in assuring the quality of Pennsylvania schools;
7 and
8 WHEREAS, The National Conference of State Legislatures has
9 noted that operations of state legislatures and the role of
10 individual legislators are often little understood by citizens
11 and that public understanding of the processes of government is
12 critical to building trust and confidence; and
13 WHEREAS, The National Conference of State Legislatures has
14 decided to continue "America's Legislators Back to School Week"
15 programs to promote civic engagement and build connections with
16 students that will strengthen our democratic society; and
17 WHEREAS, Civic education is vital to greater understanding of
18 legislative institutions and the role of legislators in a
19 representative democracy as well as interaction among
20 legislators, students, teachers and school administrators; and
21 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives supports civic
22 education to promote legislative institutions and the role of
23 legislators in a representative democracy; therefore be it
24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
25 week of September 18 through 22, 2006, as "Pennsylvania
26 Legislators Back to School Week"; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That its members be encouraged to participate in
28 "Pennsylvania Legislators Back to School Week," September 18
29 through 22, 2006, by visiting local school classrooms to engage
30 in dialogue with students about the role of the Legislature
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1 sharing ideas, listening to their concerns and providing a
2 greater appreciation of the legislative process in helping to
3 engage and inform our citizens.
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