[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 128 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 128

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 30, 1999

 Mr. Cochran submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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>