04-R
154
2004 -- H 8349
Enacted 03/25/04
H O U S E R E
S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MARCH 25, 2004 AS
"APPRECIATION FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
AND HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF RHODE ISLAND'S FIFTY-EIGHT CATHOLIC
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
SCHOOLS
Introduced By:
Representatives Giannini, Lima, Cerra, Petrarca, and E Coderre
Date
Introduced: March 25, 2004
WHEREAS,
Catholic schools ensure a complete academic and values-based education
emphasizing the moral,
intellectual, physical and social development of young people throughout
Rhode Island and the nation;
and
WHEREAS,
Catholic schools produce students who are strongly dedicated to their faith,
values, families and
communities, by providing a safe, disciplined, intellectually stimulating
environment rich in spiritual
character and moral development; and
WHEREAS,
Rhode Island's Catholic schools are acclaimed for their academic
excellence. Their elementary
school students consistently score above the norm in the national
standardized tests in all
subject areas; the high school graduation rate is 98% and 95% of their
high school graduates go on to
college; and
WHEREAS,
The total 2003-2004 academic year Catholic school enrollment for Pre-K
through 12th grade was 18,450
and accounts for 10% of all students in Rhode Island's schools.
The average elementary school
size is 260; the average elementary class size is 20; and the
student-teacher ratio in
secondary schools is 12-1; and
WHEREAS,
Rhode Island Catholic schools teach a diverse group of students, over 17%
of their elementary students
are minorities, 13% are non-Catholic, and ten of their forty-nine
elementary schools are located
in inner-city areas; and
WHEREAS,
Educational research demonstrates that Catholic schools, better than any
other type of school,
successfully close the learning achievement gap between high and low
socioeconomic groups; and
WHEREAS,
Catholics schools provide educational and construction savings of about
$400 million every year to the
state and local communities in Rhode Island; and
WHEREAS,
Catholic school alumni, students and parents contribute to, are involved in,
and are dedicated to the life
of their parishes and communities well beyond their numbers; and
WHEREAS,
In the 1972 pastoral message concerning Catholic education, the National
Conference of Catholic Bishops
stated, "Education is one of the most important ways by which
the church fulfills its
commitment to the dignity of the person and building of Community.
Community is central to
education ministry, both as a necessary condition and an ardently desired
goal. The educational efforts
of the Church, therefore, must be directed to forming persons in
community; for the education of
the individual Christian is important not only to his solitary
destiny, but also the destinies
of the many communities in which he lives." now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED,
That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations hereby
proclaims March 25, 2004 to be "Appreciation for Catholic
Schools Day" in the State
of Rhode Island; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That we support the goals of "Rhode Island Catholic Schools Day," an
event sponsored by the Rhode
Island Catholic School Parents Federation, representing some
35,000 Catholic school
parents; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That we congratulate Rhode Island Catholic schools, students, parents,
teachers, and administrators
for their ongoing contributions to the education of Rhode Island's
children, and for the key role
they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for
the State of Rhode Island; and
be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies
of this resolution to the Most Reverend Robert E. Mulvee, Bishop
of Providence, the Most
Reverend Robert J. McManus, Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, Vicar for
Education, and Brother William
Dygert, C.S.C., Superintendent of Schools.
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LC02985
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