HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 6
(By Delegates M. Poling and Paxton)
[Introduced February 12, 2009]
Recognizing the West Virginia Civics Literacy Council and Civic
Literacy Day.
Whereas, Thursday, February 12, 2009, is the 200
th Birthday of
the 16
th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, who is
responsible for the creation of the state of West Virginia and
should be a day for all West Virginians to reflect on their
responsibilities as citizens of this great State; and
Whereas, The House of Delegates urged the creation of the
West Virginia Literacy Council with the passage of House
Resolution 33 on March 8, 2007,
to promote civic education and
citizenship among West Virginia's youth and young adults; and
Whereas, Governor Joe Manchin, III has encouraged all West
Virginians to "join in honoring the visionary efforts of our
ancestors, and in this spirit of patriotism rededicate ourselves
to the great ideals that motivated our Nation's founding
fathers"; and
Whereas, The Council works to advance civic knowledge about
the Constitution of the United States and our nation's history,
encourages civic participation in voting, serving on juries and other duties of citizenship, and promotes the learning and
practice of leadership skills required to build stronger
communities through effective governance, service and
volunteerism; and
Whereas, The members of the West Virginia Civics Literacy
Council, the West Virginia League of Women Voters, the West
Virginia Humanities Council, the West Virginia School
Superintendents Association, the West Virginia Education
Association, the West Virginia Federation of Teachers, the West
Virginia Professional Educators Association, the West Virginia
Campus Compact, the West Virginia Commission for National and
Community Service, the West Virginia Library Commission, the Hi-Y
Leadership Center, the West Virginia Center for Civic Life, the
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, the West
Virginia Bar Foundation, the West Virginia Board of Education,
the West Virginia School Board Association are all assessing the
status of civics education in West Virginia, compiling an
inventory of civic engagement opportunities, and supporting the
implementation of civic literacy as part of the 21st century
skills initiative; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the House of Delegates hereby recognizes the importance
of the West Virginia Civics Literacy Council and Civic Literacy Day; and, be it
Further Resolved, That civic literacy is the responsibility
of everyone in our communities as democracy is reborn in each new
generation and that nurturing a new generation of citizens is one
of the central missions of public education and state government;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the House of Delegates encourages the
West Virginia Civics Literacy Council to continue and increase
its efforts to expand civic literacy programs and activities
within the state's public school system and to work with
interested individuals and groups in enhancing civic education
and understanding for all West Virginia citizens; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
prepare a certified copy of this resolution for the West Virginia
Civics Literacy Council.