SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION No. 48

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED JUNE 5, 1997

By Senator EWING

A Joint Resolution urging the Department of Education to recommend certain interdisciplinary courses for adoption by public school districts.

Whereas, Critical thinking is a part of the new core curriculum content standards; and

Whereas, It is necessary that students graduating from our school systems have an understanding and comprehension of major issues facing our society at local, state, national and international levels; and

Whereas, Our society needs high school and college graduates committed to long term involvement in solving or ameliorating major societal problems if the society is to thrive; and

Whereas, Current curricula will not prepare such a committed coterie of high school and college graduates; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Department of Education is urged to recommend that all school districts initiate in every high school at each grade level mandatory interdisciplinary courses designed to:

    a. have students acquire knowledge, understanding and comprehension of the major societal issues that will have a major impact on their society and civilization, such as population control, climate change, war, poverty and violence;

    b. teach students about the inter-relatedness of these major issues;

    c. teach students to think like futurists, developing alternative scenarios for the future in each area and determining how to move toward the most attractive of the scenarios; and

    d. instill commitment to long term, part-time or even full-time participation in attempts to solve or ameliorate these important problems.

    2. Be it further resolved that institutions of higher education are urged to develop similar interdisciplinary courses for all students in their institutions.

    3. Duly authenticated copies of this joint resolution shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Education and to each member of the State Board of Education.

    4. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    This joint resolution urges the Department of Education to recommend that all school districts initiate in every high school at each grade level mandatory interdisciplinary courses designed to: have students acquire knowledge, understanding and comprehension of the major societal issues that will have a major impact on their society and civilization, such as population control, climate change, war, poverty and violence; teach students about the inter-relatedness of these major issues; teach students to think like futurists, developing alternative scenarios for the future in each area and determining how to move toward the most attractive of the scenarios; and instill commitment to long term, part time or even full time participation in attempts to solve or ameliorate these important problems. Institutions of higher education are also urged to develop similar interdisciplinary courses for all students in their institutions.

    These changes to the curricula are intended to produce students that will be committed to long term involvement in solving or ameliorating major societal problems. An understanding and comprehension of major issues facing our society are necessary if the society is to thrive.

Urges Department of Education to recommend certain interdisciplinary courses.