WHEREAS, Arts Education, which includes dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts, is an essential part of basic education for all students, kindergarten through grade twelve, to provide for balanced learning and to develop the full potential of their minds;

WHEREAS, through well-planned instruction and activities in the arts, children develop initiative, creative ability, self-expression, self-reflection, thinking skills, discipline, a heightened appreciation of beauty and cross-cultural understanding;

WHEREAS, experience in the arts develops insights and abilities central to the experience of life, and the arts are collectively a most important repository of culture;

WHEREAS, many national and state professional education associations hold celebrations in the month of March focused on students’ participation in the arts:

WHEREAS, these celebrations give California schools a unique opportunity to focus on the value of the arts for all students, to foster cross-cultural understanding, to give recognition to the state’s outstanding young artists, to focus on careers in the arts available to California students, and to enhance public support for this 8important part of our curriculum, and

WHEREAS, the California State Board of Education states in its Arts Education Policy adopted in July 1989 that each student should receive a high quality, comprehensive arts education program based on the adopted Visual and Performing Arts Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the State Board of Education proclaims the month of March 2003 as Arts Education Month and encourages all educational communities to celebrate the arts with meaningful student activities and programs that demonstrate learning and understanding in the visual and performing arts; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the State Board of Education directs that suitably prepared copies of this Proclamation be provided to all school districts, county offices of education, and schools in the State of California.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Trinity County Board of Education this 25th day of February, 2003, by the following vote:

AYES: 5

NOES: 0

ABSENT: 0

Date: February 25, 2003

Greg Simmons, President
Trinity County Board of Education