SENATE, No. 2133

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 5, 1997

 

 

By Senators CARDINALE, SCOTT, Kosco, Bubba, Ewing, Cafiero, Littell, O'Connor, Kyrillos, Kenny and Lipman

 

 

An Act to require principals and teachers of public schools to conduct an oral recitation before the opening of each school day and supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

  1. Principals and teachers in each public elementary and secondary school of each school district in this State shall conduct, before the opening exercises of each school day, an oral recitation of the following excerpt from the "Declaration of Independence":

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed . . . ."

 

  2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

This bill requires public elementary and secondary school principals and teachers to conduct an oral recitation of the following excerpt from the "Declaration of Independence" before the beginning of the school day:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. . . ."

  Currently, the statutes require the pupils in each school to salute the flag and say the pledge of allegiance on every school day (N.J.S.18A:36-3). In addition, N.J.S.18A:36-13 requires that appropriate patriotic exercises must be held in all public schools on the last school day preceding certain patriotic holidays.

 

 

 

Requires principals and teachers of public schools to conduct an oral recitation before the opening of each school day.