RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, the democratic process is based on citizen participation, and democracy could only be maintained through educated and informed citizens; and

WHEREAS, the younger generation must be prepared to face the growing challenges of our society and must develop skills needed to progress toward peace, social justice, and environmental sustainability; and

WHEREAS, often overlooked in the education system is education on the basic skills needed to understand and cooperate with all peoples and cultures and take active leadership roles in improving the conditions of the community and world; and

WHEREAS, students need a positive exposure to the history, cultural heritage, and core values of the community to become motivated to participate as citizens in their community; and

WHEREAS, research demonstrates that adolescence, specifically early adolescence, is the optimal time for citizenship education since the development of crucial orientations to life is taking place, and if civic concern is not among them, it may never arise; and

WHEREAS, Part IX of Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, identified civic responsibility as one of the three primary goals that the education system should cultivate in students; and

WHEREAS, education in civic responsibility contributes to the enrichment of culture and overall well-being of the community; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2005, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education is urged to develop a civic responsibility program in public schools using experiences and histories on the following:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the program provide documentation to future generations of lessons learned from these ethnic groups which would help shape their lives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is urged to establish a study team comprised of representatives from the Department of Education, Board of Education, University of Hawaii College of Education and College of Arts and Sciences, the United Filipino Council of Hawaii, the Japanese Cultural Center, representatives of groups representing Hawaiians to be invited to participate by the University of Hawaii, and other appropriate groups to identify and define civic responsibilities for teachers, students, and parents; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suggested issues to be reviewed by the study team include the following:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study team report its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation and preliminary lesson plans, materials requirement, and funding, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2006 Regular Session; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to Superintendent of Education, Chairperson of the Board of Education, President of the University of Hawaii, Dean of the College of Education at the University of Hawaii, President of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii, and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Japanese Cultural Center.

Report Title:

Civic education