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SUMMARY: LC 33 5182S
Establishes the week including September 17th as Celebrate Freedom Week to educate students about the sacrifices made for freedom in the founding of this country and the values, principles, and philosophies on which this country was founded.
During this week all public schools would be required to include about three hours of instruction on the Constitution, other founding documents, and the founding fathers. Systems may recommend that students in grades 3-12 recite one of several listed historical passages at least once during the week and allow teachers and administrators to read or post portions of documents, records, or images that reflect the history of the U.S.
REQUIREMENTS:
All public schools must recognize the week including September 17th as Celebrate Freedom Week.
This week shall include approximately 3 hours of appropriate instruction, as determined by each local system, in each social studies class.
Instruction shall include an age-appropriate study of the intent, meaning, and importance of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution including the Bill of Rights, in their historical context and instruction about the Founding Fathers, such as signers of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and the first six Presidents, particularly George Washington.
Religious references in the writings of the Founding Fathers shall not be censored.
School Systems shall suggest that students in grades 3-12 read at least one book during the school year that focuses on the Founding Era, either the times and events or the people who made significant contributions to independence or toward establishing the new state or federal governments.
School systems may require students in grades 3-12 to recite passages from specific excerpts listed in the statute -- from the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, first, fourteenth, and nineteenth amendments to the Constitution -- at least once during the week.
Public schools may display historically important excerpts from, or copies of, American historical documents in classrooms and common areas as appropriate.
Local boards and charter schools shall allow and may encourage any public school teacher or administrator to read or post in a public school building, classroom, or event excerpts or portions of writings, documents, records, or images that reflect the history of the U.S. including, but not limited to:
- Preamble to the Georgia Constitution
- Declaration of Independence
- U.S. Constitution
- Bill of Rights
- Mayflower Compact
- National motto
- Pledge of Allegiance
- National Anthem
- Writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the Founding Fathers and Presidents of the U.S.
- Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court
- Acts of Congress
Department of Education shall create and make easily available, by July 31, 2013, an online instructional resource page(s) for teachers related to historical documents.
There shall be no content-based censorship of American history, writings of the Founding Fathers, or heritage documents due to their religious or cultural nature.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Beginning with the 2014-15 school year
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