[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 22 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1156-S1157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ARTS EDUCATION MONTH

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 128 and 
the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 128) designating March 2000 as ``Arts 
     Education Month.''

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and, finally, that any statements be printed in 
the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 128) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution with its preamble is as follows:

                              S. Res. 128

       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;

[[Page S1157]]

       (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.

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