H.C.R. 7

1

MULTICULTURAL CURRICULUM AND
2 DIVERSITY RESOLUTION
3 1999 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Duane E. Bourdeaux
6 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR
7 ENCOURAGING UTAH'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO DEVELOP PROGRAMS OF
8 INSTRUCTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGE AND RESPECT THE CONTRIBUTIONS ETHNIC
9 AND CULTURAL GROUPS HAVE MADE TO THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF
10 THE STATE AND NATION; AND URGING COLLEGES OF EDUCATION TO INCLUDE
11 THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND MULTICULTURAL
12 THEMES IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION PROGRAMS.
13 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
14 WHEREAS, the demands of the 21st century will require the citizens of Utah to obtain an
15 international perspective that is culturally sensitive to diverse populations;
16 WHEREAS, as the new millennium approaches, high tech travel and communications are
17 more available to a worldwide population, and greater numbers of people are interacting with one
18 another;
19 WHEREAS, greater knowledge of cultures, races, and people and their differences as well
20 as their similarities has become critical to successful social and economic exchange;
21 WHEREAS, the growth and development of cultural diversity in Utah has accelerated
22 during the past three decades and the state is now the home to cultures from nearly every other
23 state and nation of the world;
24 WHEREAS, early western European peoples and now worldwide cultures have migrated
25 to the state and given it a foundation for cultural diversity, and as Utah enterprise provides
26 opportunities for a competitive edge in a worldwide marketplace, cultural diversity will grow;
27 WHEREAS, it is recognized that cultural diversity may challenge a homogenous society,

28 but it is further recognized that through proper education and productive assimilation of peoples
29 and their cultures, individuals throughout the state can collectively and individually be enriched;
30 and
31 WHEREAS, Utah citizens believe that multiculture education will foster acceptance and
32 appreciation for a cultural uniqueness that has become part of this state:
33 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature, the Governor concurring
34 therein, that Utah public schools are encouraged to develop a program of instruction that
35 acknowledges and respects the contributions ethnic and cultural groups have made to the overall
36 social and economic fabric of the state, and to make a renewed effort to integrate into the
37 curriculum an accurate portrayal of the role of historically underrepresented groups in the growth
38 and development of this country.
39 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Utah colleges of education are urged to include the
40 importance of teaching cultural diversity and multicultural themes in their professional preparation
41 programs as it applies across the curriculum.
42 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the State Board of
43 Education, the state's 40 local school boards, and the deans of the colleges of education.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-5-99 2:07 PM

A limited legal review of this legislation raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel