[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 128 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 128

          Designating March 2000, as ``Arts Education Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 30, 1999

Mr. Cochran (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Coverdell, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
  DeWine, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Roth, Mr. 
Biden, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Kennedy, 
 Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Cleland, Mr. Moynihan, 
Mr. Schumer, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Warner, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Smith 
of Oregon, Mr. Robb, Mr. Reid, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Hatch, Ms. 
    Landrieu, Mr. Reed, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Levin, Ms. 
    Mikulski, Mr. Frist, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Murkowski, Mr. Graham, Mr. 
 Thurmond, Mr. Thompson, Mr. L. Chafee, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. 
    Crapo, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Torricelli, Mr. 
 Specter, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Lott, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Enzi, and Mr. Bond) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

                             March 2, 2000

             Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
          Designating March 2000, as ``Arts Education Month''.

Whereas arts literacy is a fundamental purpose of schooling for all students;
Whereas arts education stimulates, develops and refines many cognitive and 
        creative skills, critical thinking and nimbleness in judgment, 
        creativity and imagination, cooperative decisionmaking, leadership, 
        high-level literacy and communication, and the capacity for problem 
        posing and problem-solving;
Whereas arts education contributes significantly to the creation of flexible, 
        adaptable, and knowledgeable workers who will be needed in the 21st 
        century economy;
Whereas arts education improves teaching and learning;
Whereas when parents and families, artists, arts organizations, businesses, 
        local civic and cultural leaders, and institutions are actively engaged 
        in instructional programs, arts education is more successful;
Whereas effective teachers of the arts should be encouraged to continue to learn 
        and grow in mastery of their art form as well as in their teaching 
        competence;
Whereas the 1999 study, entitled ``Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons from 
        School Districts that Value Arts Education'', found that the literacy, 
        education, programs, learning and growth described in the preceding 
        clauses contribute to successful districtwide arts education;
Whereas the 1997 National Assessment of Educational Progress reported that 
        students lack sufficient opportunity for participatory learning in the 
        arts;
Whereas educators, schools, students, and other community members recognize the 
        importance of arts education; and
Whereas arts programs, arts curriculum, and other arts activities in schools 
        across the Nation should be encouraged and publicly recognized: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF ARTS EDUCATION MONTH.

    The Senate--
            (1) designates March 2000, as ``Arts Education Month''; and
            (2) encourages schools, students, educators, parents, and 
        other community members to engage in activities designed to--
                    (A) celebrate the positive impact and public 
                benefits of the arts;
                    (B) encourage all schools to integrate the arts 
                into the school curriculum;
                    (C) spotlight the relationship between the arts and 
                student learning;
                    (D) demonstrate how community involvement in the 
                creation and implementation of arts policies enriches 
                schools;
                    (E) recognize school administrators and faculty who 
                provide quality arts education to students;
                    (F) provide professional development opportunities 
                in the arts for teachers;
                    (G) create opportunities for students to experience 
                the relationship between participation in the arts and 
                developing the life skills necessary for future 
                personal and professional success;
                    (H) increase, encourage, and ensure comprehensive, 
                sequential arts learning for all students;
                    (I) honor individual, class, and student group 
                achievement in the arts; and
                    (J) increase awareness and accessibility to live 
                performances, and original works of art.
                                 <all>