LRB-4466/2
PJD:cjs:km
1999 - 2000 LEGISLATURE
March 23, 2000 - Introduced by Senator Grobschmidt. Referred to Committee on
Senate Organization.
SR5,1,1
1Relating to: proclaiming September as "Citizenship Month".
SR5,1,42
Whereas, the American experiment of representative, self-governing
3democracy can only function effectively with the consent and participation of an
4enlightened, competent and responsible citizenry; and
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Whereas, the various levels of governing — local, state, federal — must be
6understood by citizens if they are to communicate their views and ideas to
7representatives to shape and implement public policy; and
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Whereas, overwhelming evidence exists that citizens have low opinions about
9the work of state legislatures and have relatively little knowledge about what their
10representatives do; and
SR5,1,1211
Whereas, civic education is essential for citizens to develop a common language
12and understanding of politics and governing; and
SR5,2,213
Whereas, civic education is an important tool to develop the habits of civic
14virtue including civility, individual responsibility, self-discipline, open-mindedness,
1compromise, tolerance of others, patience, persistence, compassion, generosity and
2loyalty to one's nation and community; and
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Whereas, civic education is most effective when the principles that sustain
4representative democracy are instilled at an early age; and
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Whereas, civic education programs in school classes, such as
We the People...
6Project Citizen for middle school classes
, are effective, successful tools for teaching
7young citizens how to address state and local community public policy issues by
8identifying a public policy problem in their community, gathering and evaluating
9information on the problem, examining and evaluating solutions, selecting or
10developing a proposed public policy and developing an action plan; and
SR5,2,1311
Whereas, classes participating in such programs learn that government and
12public service cannot just be observed, but must be experienced with hands-on
13action and communication; and
SR5,2,1514
Whereas, participation in such programs involves numerous segments of the
15community in teaching students about the legislative process; and
SR5,2,1716
Whereas, the federal government has proclaimed September 17 as Citizenship
17Day, and the week of September 17 is Constitution Week; now, therefore, be it
SR5,2,20
18Resolved by the senate, That civic education programs are ideal tools to teach
19students about the reality and promise of citizenship in a representative democracy;
20and, be it further
SR5,2,21
21Resolved, That September is proclaimed "Citizenship Month" in Wisconsin.