Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 72–Committee

on Education

FILE NUMBER........

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

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

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

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

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

ancestors by the records of history?"; and

Whereas, In the minutes of a meeting of the Board of Governors of the

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

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

the principles of government upon which the Constitution of the United

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

respect to the distinctive principles of the government of the United States

of America, in the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and

the Farewell Address of President George Washington; and

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

States of America, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers,

the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Farewell

Address of President George Washington together encompass the periphery

and essence of the governing principles of the United States of America;

and

Whereas, General knowledge of these essential historical documents is

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

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

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

Whereas, Knowledge of the Constitution of the State of Nevada is

instrumental in understanding how the concepts and principles set forth in

national documents of historical significance apply at the state level; and

Whereas, Knowledge of documents that have been written and events

that have transpired in the two centuries following the founding of this

nation are also important to understanding the diverse culture that has

evolved in this nation as we approach the 21st century; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

Concurring, That the Legislature of the State of Nevada hereby urges the

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

Nevada Legislature in 1997, to continue to incorporate into the standards of

content and performance that the Council establishes with respect to the

subject of social studies within the appropriate grade level, the study of the

Constitution of the United States of America, including, without limitation,

the Bill of Rights, the Constitution of the State of Nevada, the Declaration

of Independence, the Federalist Papers, the Gettysburg Address and the

Emancipation Proclamation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of Nevada also urges the

Council to incorporate into its standards the study of documents and events

that reflect the full history of this country and its diverse citizenry,

including, without limitation, the Seneca Falls Declaration, "Ain’t I A

Woman?" by Sojourner Truth, the writings and activities of Susan B.

Anthony with respect to women’s rights, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo,

the speech entitled "I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King, Jr., the

Monroe Doctrine, the discussions of President Theodore Roosevelt with

respect to anti-trust law and the writings and activities of Ralph J. Bunche

with respect to the challenge of human relations; and be it further

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

copy of this resolution to the Chairman of the Council to Establish

Academic Standards for Public Schools, created by the Nevada Legislature

in 1997.

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