Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 72–Committee
on Education

May 24, 1999

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Referred to Committee on Education

 

SUMMARY—Urges Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools to incorporate study of certain historical documents into standards of content and performance that Council establishes for subject of social studies. (BDR R-1755)

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

 

ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONUrging the Council to Establish Academic

Standards for Public Schools to incorporate the study of certain historical documents into the

standards of content and performance that the Council establishes for the subject

of social studies.

1-1 Whereas, In the words of philosopher George Santayana, "Those who

1-2 do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it"; and

1-3 Whereas, In the words of orator Marcus Tullius Cicero, "To be

1-4 ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.

1-5 For what is the worth of human life, unless it is woven into the life of our

1-6 ancestors by the records of history?"; and

1-7 Whereas, In the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Governors of the

1-8 University of Virginia held on March 4, 1825, Thomas Jefferson, Founding

1-9 Father and third President of the United States of America, recorded that

1-10 the principles of government upon which the Constitution of the United

1-11 States of America is genuinely based are to be found essentially, with

1-12 respect to the distinctive principles of the government of the United States

1-13 of America, in the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and

1-14 the Farewell Address of President George Washington; and

1-15 Whereas, It is a generally held view that the Constitution of the United

1-16 States of America, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers,

1-17 the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Farewell

1-18 Address of President George Washington together encompass the periphery

1-19 and essence of the governing principles of the United States of America;

1-20 and

2-1 Whereas, General knowledge of these essential historical documents is

2-2 required of persons who desire to become naturalized citizens of the United

2-3 States of America and, by comparison, we should ask no less of our

2-4 children who enjoy citizenship in this country as their birthright; and

2-5 Whereas, Knowledge of the Constitution of the State of Nevada is

2-6 instrumental in understanding how the concepts and principles set forth in

2-7 national documents of historical significance apply at the state level; now,

2-8 therefore, be it

2-9 Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

2-10 Concurring, That the Legislature of the State of Nevada hereby urges the

2-11 Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools, created by the

2-12 Nevada Legislature in 1997, to incorporate into the standards of content

2-13 and performance that the Council establishes with respect to the subject of

2-14 social studies, the study of the Constitution of the United States of America,

2-15 including, without limitation, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution of the

2-16 State of Nevada, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers,

2-17 the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Farewell

2-18 Address of President George Washington, in addition to the study of other

2-19 documents that reflect the full history of this country and its diverse

2-20 citizenry; and be it further

2-21 Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a

2-22 copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Council to Establish

2-23 Academic Standards for Public Schools, created by the Nevada Legislature

2-24 in 1997.

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