HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1427        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3549

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to civics education in schools..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 2 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws is amended, in line 3, by striking the words “in all public high schools” and inserting the words “from sixth to twelfth grade in all public schools”; and is further amended in line 2, by inserting after the words “United States” the following:

“the articles of confederation, the history of the political climate that led to the American Revolution, the federal structure which emphasizes the vertical separation of powers and the relationship of the constitutions of the commonwealth and county”; and is further amended in line 7, by adding after the words “duties of citizenship.” The following:

                “Course material shall be taught as originally drafted with no intentional omissions of the original intent of the founding fathers.  The teaching of a revisionist form of history shall be considered invalid.

                “The successful completion of a course in civics during the twelfth grade year shall be mandated as a requirement for all students in order to receive their high school diploma.  

“SECTION 2. The department shall take all reasonable efforts to accomplish the establishment of necessary regulations by June 30, 2010, in order that the provisions of this act may be implemented in the following school year.”