Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 72–Committee
on Education
May 24, 1999
____________
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SUMMARY—Urges Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools to incorporate study of certain historical documents into standards of content and performance that Council establishes for subject of social studies.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
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION—Urging 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Standards for Public Schools to incorporate the study of certain historical documents into the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 who1-2
do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it"; and1-3
Whereas, In the words of orator Marcus Tullius Cicero, "To be1-4
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 our1-6
ancestors by the records of history?"; and1-7
Whereas, In the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Governors of the1-8
University of Virginia held on March 4, 1825, Thomas Jefferson, Founding1-9
Father and third President of the United States of America, recorded that1-10
the principles of government upon which the Constitution of the United1-11
States of America is genuinely based are to be found essentially, with1-12
respect to the distinctive principles of the government of the United States1-13
of America, in the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and1-14
the Farewell Address of President George Washington; and1-15
Whereas, It is a generally held view that the Constitution of the United1-16
States of America, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers,1-17
the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Farewell1-18
Address of President George Washington together encompass the periphery1-19
and essence of the governing principles of the United States of America;1-20
and2-1
Whereas, General knowledge of these essential historical documents is2-2
required of persons who desire to become naturalized citizens of the United2-3
States of America and, by comparison, we should ask no less of our2-4
children who enjoy citizenship in this country as their birthright; and2-5
Whereas, Knowledge of the Constitution of the State of Nevada is2-6
instrumental in understanding how the concepts and principles set forth in2-7
national documents of historical significance apply at the state level; now,2-8
therefore, be it2-9
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate2-10
Concurring, That the Legislature of the State of Nevada hereby urges the2-11
Council to Establish Academic Standards for Public Schools, created by the2-12
Nevada Legislature in 1997, to incorporate into the standards of content2-13
and performance that the Council establishes with respect to the subject of2-14
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 the2-16
State of Nevada, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers,2-17
the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Farewell2-18
Address of President George Washington, in addition to the study of other2-19
documents that reflect the full history of this country and its diverse2-20
citizenry; and be it further2-21
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit a2-22
copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Council to Establish2-23
Academic Standards for Public Schools, created by the Nevada Legislature2-24
in 1997.~