BILL REQ. #: H-0599.1
| State of Washington | 58th Legislature | 2003 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/21/2003. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to requiring the teaching of the relationship of the Declaration of Independence to the constitutions of the United States and Washington state; amending RCW 28A.230.170; adding a new section to chapter 28A.230 RCW; and creating new sections.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 The Declaration of Independence makes it
clear "that all men are created equal and are endowed with certain
unalienable rights, that among these rights are Life, Liberty, and the
pursuit of Happiness. To secure these rights Governments are
instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of
the governed ...."
The Washington state Constitution echoes the Declaration of
Independence. The preamble states: "We the people of the state of
Washington grateful to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for our
liberties, do ordain this constitution." Then Article 1, section 1
states: "All political power is inherent in the people, and
governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed,
and are established to protect and maintain individual rights." The
schools have neglected to teach this principle.
The legislature wants to give children and their children's
children the blessings of liberty. Schools must teach the relationship
of the Declaration of Independence to United States and Washington
state constitutions for this to happen. This is not a religion or a
separation of church and state issue. The issue is teaching the
substance and meanings of the liberties provided by the United States
and Washington state constitutions as outlined by the Declaration of
Independence.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 RCW 28A.230.170 states: "The study of the
Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of
Washington shall be a condition prerequisite to graduation from public
and private high schools of this state." However, the courts have
ruled "any study constitutes study." Therefore, the superintendent of
public instruction has left it up to the teacher. Teachers have not
provided any noticeable instruction to students on the relationship of
the Declaration of Independence to the United States Constitution,
including the Bill of Rights, and the Washington state Constitution.
This act requires public and private schools to teach the
relationship of the Declaration of Independence to the constitutions of
the United States and Washington state and display these documents on
school property.
Sec. 3 RCW 28A.230.170 and 1985 c 341 s 1 are each amended to
read as follows:
The study of the Constitution of the United States and the
Constitution of the state of Washington shall be a condition
prerequisite to graduation from the public and private high schools of
this state. The state board of education acting upon the advice of the
superintendent of public instruction shall provide by rule ((or
regulation)) for the implementation of this section into the K-12
social studies curriculum. Local school boards are responsible for
providing books that explain the meaning and substance of the
Declaration of Independence, and the constitutions of the United States
and the state of Washington. Local school boards are responsible for
displaying copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of
Rights, the United States Constitution, and the Washington state
Constitution.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4 A new section is added to chapter 28A.230
RCW to read as follows:
The word "study" in RCW 28A.230.170 includes:
(1) Illustrating, by teacher instruction, how the Declaration of
Independence provided the outline for both the United States
Constitution and the Washington state Constitution;
(2) Relating sections of the Washington state Constitution to
statements made in the Declaration of Independence and the United
States Constitution;
(3) Teaching the heritage and meaning of this statement from the
Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator
with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty,
and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, governments
are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent
of the governed." Suggested sources are: The Magna Carta (1215), the
1628 Petition of Right to King Charles I, the writings of Sir Edward
Coke (1552-1634), John Locke (1632-1704), the Spirit of Laws (1748) by
Charles De Montesquieu, and Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780);
(4) Teacher instruction on The Northwest Ordinance, which sets the
requirements for states to join the union, shall be required. Emphasis
shall be placed on teaching the educational intent of the founding
fathers as presented in Article 3 of the Northwest Ordinance, which
states: "Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good
government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of
education shall forever be encouraged ...";
(5) Teaching the heritage and meaning of the religious freedom
statement of Article I, section 11 of the Washington state
Constitution. Suggested student readings include: Thomas Jefferson's
"Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom" (1786), and James Madison's
"Memorial and Remonstrance." The purpose of this instruction is to
illustrate the struggle for obtaining "absolute freedom of conscience
in all matters of religious sentiment ..." as stated in Article I,
section 11 of the Washington state Constitution;
(6) Requiring that students be encouraged to memorize the preamble
of the United States Constitution along with the preamble and Article
I, section 1 of the Washington state Constitution;
(7) Requiring that students read and be taught George Washington's
first inaugural address and his farewell address; Abraham Lincoln's
first inaugural address, and Lincoln's Gettysburg address for their
advice in supporting and defending the United States Constitution;
(8) Testing, including state standardized testing, on the meanings
of the constitutions and on the meaning of such words as: Tyrant,
despotism, providence, consanguinity, rectitude, endowed, unalienable,
created equal, tranquility, posterity, ordain, blessings,
licentiousness, and "law of nature" as defined in the 1828 edition of
Webster's Dictionary;
(9) Displaying the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights,
preamble to the United States Constitution, and the preamble and the
first twelve sections of the Washington state Constitution with a note
stating: "For the complete text of the Washington state Constitution
go to the school library"; and
(10) Illustrating, with teacher instruction, the relationship of
the "Pledge of Allegiance to the United States" to the Declaration of
Independence and the Washington state Constitution (the preamble,
Article I, section 1, and Article I, section 11). This instruction
shall be taught at the time the "Pledge of Allegiance" is taught.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5 Part headings used in this act are not any
part of the law.