[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 275 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 275

Expressing support for designation of the week beginning on the second 
             Sunday of September as Arts in Education Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 6, 2010

     Ms. Speier (for herself, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Wu, Mrs. Davis of 
California, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Neal of Massachusetts, Ms. Berkley, Ms. 
    Matsui, Ms. Lee of California, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. 
 Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Polis of Colorado, Mr. Moran of 
    Virginia, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Spratt, Mr. Connolly of 
  Virginia, Mr. McNerney, Mr. Stark, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. 
 Farr, Mr. Garamendi, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Schauer, Ms. Moore of 
 Wisconsin, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. Kind, Mr. Cummings, Ms. Watson, Mr. Holt, 
 Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Patrick J. Murphy of Pennsylvania, Mr. 
   McGovern, Mr. Platts, Mr. Filner, Mr. Langevin, Ms. Schwartz, Ms. 
     McCollum, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Cao, Mrs. 
Christensen, Mr. Dicks, Mr. Pallone, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mr. Rahall, 
Mr. Snyder, Ms. Norton, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Hall of New York, Mr. Berman, 
Mr. Sherman, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Rothman of New Jersey, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
  Watt, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Yarmuth, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Hinchey, and Mr. 
Hare) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 
                to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for designation of the week beginning on the second 
             Sunday of September as Arts in Education Week.

Whereas arts education, comprising a rich array of disciplines including dance, 
        music, theatre, media arts, literature, design, and visual arts, is a 
        core academic subject and an essential element of a complete and 
        balanced education for all students;
Whereas according to Albert Einstein, ``After a certain high level of technical 
        skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in esthetics, 
        plasticity, and form. The greatest scientists are artists as well.'';
Whereas arts education enables students to develop critical thinking and problem 
        solving skills, imagination and creativity, discipline, alternative ways 
        to communicate and express feelings and ideas, and cross-cultural 
        understanding, which supports academic success across the curriculum as 
        well as personal growth outside the classroom;
Whereas the nonprofit arts sector is an economic engine and plays a significant 
        role in the economic health of communities large and small with direct 
        expenditures of wages and benefits as well as goods and services;
Whereas to succeed in today's economy, students must masterfully use words, 
        images, sounds, and movement to communicate;
Whereas as the Nation works to strengthen its foothold in the 21st century 
        global economy, the arts equip students with a creative, competitive 
        edge;
Whereas the arts provide the skills and knowledge students need to develop the 
        creativity and determination necessary for success in the global 
        information age;
Whereas where schools and communities are delivering high-quality learning 
        opportunities in, through, and about the arts for children, 
        extraordinary results occur;
Whereas according to a study by the Arts Education Partnership entitled Third 
        Space: When Learning Matters, schools with large populations of students 
        in economic poverty can be transformed into vibrant hubs of learning 
        when the arts are infused into the culture and curriculum;
Whereas studies have also found that eighth graders from underresourced 
        environments who are highly involved in the arts have better grades, 
        less likelihood of dropping out by grade ten, have more positive 
        attitudes about school, and are more likely to go onto college;
Whereas attracting and retaining the best teachers is vital and can be achieved 
        by ensuring that schools embrace the arts, becoming havens for 
        creativity and innovation;
Whereas arts education has the power to make students want to learn not just 
        within the arts, but other areas of study;
Whereas art is integral to the lives of United States citizens and essential to 
        the health and vitality of communities and the Nation; and
Whereas the week beginning on the second Sunday of September would be an 
        appropriate week to designate as Arts in Education Week: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the designation of Arts in Education Week;
            (2) calls on governors, mayors, and other elected officials 
        from across the United States to issue proclamations to raise 
        awareness of the value and importance of arts in education; and
            (3) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
        encouraging the people of the United States to observe such 
        week with appropriate activities.
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