05-R 225

2005 -- S 1065

Enacted 05/04/05

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 4, 2005 AS "CIVIC EDUCATION DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE

ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Gallo, P Fogarty, Walaska, C Levesque, and Issa

Date Introduced: May 04, 2005

     WHEREAS, The strength of a representative democracy is in the knowledge and

participation of its people; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island was the first of the original thirteen colonies to declare its

independence from Great Britain on May 4, 1776; and

     WHEREAS, The young people of today lack the interest, knowledge and trust of

American politics, and the percentage of young people who vote has declined over the past

decades; and

     WHEREAS, In 2001, legislation was passed to form the Permanent Joint Legislative

Commission on Civic Education, in a bipartisan effort, to fortify the fundamental values of the

American constitutional democracy by promoting the acquisition of knowledge and development

of participatory skills among our citizens, and to promote the teaching of Rhode Island history;

and

     WHEREAS, The Civic Education Commission has convened a Summit at the Rhode

Island State House on May 4, 2005, with participation of national and state experts in the field as

well as local educators, to address civic education in Rhode Island schools; and

     WHEREAS, Wednesday May 4, 2005 is the 229th anniversary of that proud day in Rhode

Island history when Rhode Island declared its independence; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby proclaims May 4, 2005 as “Civic Education Day” in the State of Rhode Island; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby pledges itself to the continued effort to make Civic Education a priority in the education of

the students of Rhode Island.

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LC03227

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