senate resolution no.146

Senators Hollier, Wojno, Moss, Bayer, Chang and Schmidt offered the following resolution:

A resolution to affirm our belief that students' education should include a full and complete telling of history.

Whereas, There have been many recent efforts to limit or regulate what parts of American history can be taught in our schools. Supporters of these efforts have argued that it will protect children from divisive concepts and topics that portray the United States in a negative light; and

Whereas, Papering over the uncomfortable or unflattering aspects of our nation's history is a disservice to students. The avoidance of these topics in the classroom will not protect students from encountering them in the rest of society; and

Whereas, Providing a whitewashed version of history perpetuates our society's flaws into the future. As is often said "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." Failing to educate our children about the faults and failures of our predecessors will only allow these characteristics and ideas to continue unchecked into future generations; and

Whereas, Ensuring our state's children understand the full scope of American history will enable our state to live up to the vision of the founding fathers. In the U.S. Constitution, the founders wrote that the constitution was established in order to "form a more perfect Union" understanding that the nation at its founding was not perfect and would change overtime. Providing an accurate and full education on our history will allow future generations to continue the path towards a more perfect union; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That we affirm our belief that students' education should include a full and complete telling of history; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Superintendent of Public Education and the Michigan State Board of Education.