First Substitute S.J.R. 9

Senator Karen Hale proposes to substitute the following bill:

1 RESOLUTION ON FUNDING THE ARTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2 2000 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Karen Hale
5 D. Edgar Allen
6 Ron Allen
7 Gene Davis
8 Mike Dmitrich
9 Scott N. Howell
10 Joseph L. Hull
Lorin V. Jones
Paula F. Julander
Ed P. Mayne
Howard C. Nielson
Millie M. Peterson
L. Steven Poulton
David H. Steele
Pete Suazo
Michael G. Waddoups
Lane Beattie

11 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATURE EXPRESSING ITS SUPPORT FOR THE
12 STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO ADOPT WRITTEN
13 POLICIES THAT IMPLEMENT THE FINE ARTS CORE CURRICULUM AND TO WORK
14 WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUSINESS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
15 TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES TO ADEQUATELY PROVIDE FOR THE FUNDING OF ARTS
16 PROGRAMS IN THE STATE'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
17 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
18 WHEREAS, recent national studies have confirmed that students with high levels of arts
19 participation outperform students who have had little or no involvement with the arts by virtually
20 every measure;
21 WHEREAS, people learn in many different ways, and the arts provide a wide variety of
22 ways to successfully learn, increasing student self confidence and the potential to learn more;
23 WHEREAS, the arts require that students learn self-motivation and self-discipline that the
24 students can apply to other courses and encourage students to aim high and achieve academic
25 excellence in all subjects through performing in music, dance, visual art, theater, and creative
26 writing;
27 WHEREAS, research shows that the arts actually stimulate neurological development,

28 which is important to all areas of learning, and that the important thinking and learning skills that
29 are taught through the arts enhance a student's ability to solve problems, make decisions, ask
30 questions and analyze information, evaluate the student's own work, and complete complex and
31 multi-faceted projects;
32 WHEREAS, arts education teaches students to work cooperatively as a team and unites
33 students from diverse walks of life through the common and shared language of dance, music, folk
34 and ethnic arts;
35 WHEREAS, children are calmer, more teachable because of the physical, emotional, and
36 creative outlets the arts offer;
37 WHEREAS, the arts develop creativity, and creative problems-solving skills that are
38 needed in all areas of living and working;
39 WHEREAS, recent research has shown that students who are not having positive
40 experiences in their traditional academic classroom settings often become high achievers in arts
41 learning settings and that success in the arts becomes a bridge to learning and eventual success in
42 other areas of learning;
43 WHEREAS, an arts education builds specific workforce skills that business values and it
44 also builds values that connect children to themselves and to their own culture and civilization;
45 WHEREAS, the public is demanding more than ever from our public schools, wanting to
46 equip young people for professionally and personally rewarding careers, and it recognizes that to
47 do so those young people must be given greatly enriched experiences; and
48 WHEREAS, researchers have confirmed that young people can be better prepared for the
49 21st Century through quality learning experiences in and through the arts:
50 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature expresses its support for the
51 State Board of Education and local school boards to adopt written polices to implement the fine
52 arts core curriculum and to collaborate with state and local government, business, and community
53 leaders to identify and secure financial resources to adequately fund the implementation of the fine
54 arts core curriculum in the state's public schools.
55 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the State Board of
56 Education and local school boards to cooperatively develop a plan to strengthen arts education
57 throughout the public education system.
58 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the State Board of

59 education and the state's forth local school boards.