PRINTER'S NO. 694
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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
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SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 70 Session of 2005
A RESOLUTION
Reaffirming Pennsylvania's commitment to the teaching of the
theory of evolution in public schools, urging every school
district to take appropriate action to ensure that the theory
of evolution is being taught and urging the Department of
Education to take appropriate action to ensure that the
theory of evolution is being taught in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, In 2002 the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through
the State Board of Education, adopted Academic Standards for
Science and Technology; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to those standards, Pennsylvania's public
schools are required to teach, challenge and support every
student so that he or she will acquire, by the end of tenth
grade, the knowledge and skills needed to be able to explain the
mechanisms of the theory of evolution; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to those standards, Pennsylvania's public
schools are required to teach, challenge and support every
student so he or she will acquire, by the end of 12th grade, the
knowledge and skills needed to be able to analyze the theory of
evolution; and
WHEREAS, Scientists, science teachers and science professors
strongly believe that teaching the theory of evolution is a
critical component of a comprehensive knowledge of science that
will enable students to understand the world around them; and
WHEREAS, Scientists, science teachers and science professors
strongly believe that students must be taught the theory of
evolution in public schools if those students are to effectively
compete for admission to our best colleges and universities and
to enjoy successful professional careers; and
WHEREAS, The theory of evolution is the fundamental basis of
biotechnology and life sciences, fields which hold the promise
of medical discoveries and which have the potential for exciting
new economic development projects; and
WHEREAS, There are troubling studies which show that high
school students in the United States are performing below the
international average in scientific achievement; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate reaffirm Pennsylvania's commitment
to the teaching of the theory of evolution in public schools as
part of the science curriculum; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge every school district to take
appropriate action to ensure that the theory of evolution is
being taught and that students are acquiring the knowledge and
skills to be able to explain the mechanisms of the theory of
evolution and to analyze the theory of evolution; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Senate urge the Department of Education to
take appropriate action to ensure that the theory of evolution
is being taught in Pennsylvania in accordance with the Academic
Standards for Science and Technology adopted in January 2002.
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