HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 68
(By Delegates Dalton and Hubbard)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
an interim study of the need for education rules to assure
that all West Virginia elementary school students have equal
opportunity to receive instruction in music, art and
physical education from certified specialists in these
fields.
Whereas, Physical education, art and music are required
programs of study for the State's elementary school students; and
Whereas, Counties are not now required to employ properly
certified specialists to teach physical education, art and music
in the elementary grades of public schools; and
Whereas, There is disparity among counties of the amount and
quality of instruction offered to the state's elementary school
students in the specialized areas of physical education, art and
music; and
Whereas, The Legislature recognizes that the support of
specialists in the areas of physical education, art and music is
necessary for the education of the whole child; and
Whereas, The Legislature recognizes the importance of
providing to each elementary school student 30 minutes or more of
physical education daily and one hour or more of education weekly
in both art and music, presented by specialists certified to
teach in these areas; and
Whereas, Specialists teaching physical education, art and
music are often the first teachers to be removed from their
positions during a reduction in force; and
Whereas, There are presently no requirements that instruction
in physical education, art and music be offered uniformly to all
elementary school students by teachers who are certified
specialists in these fields; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to review, examine and study, during the interim of the
Legislature, program requirements which would ensure that all
elementary students receive 30 minutes or more of instruction in
physical education daily and one hour or more of instruction
weekly in both art and music, by teachers who are certified
specialists in their fields; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the program requirements to be
studied by the Joint Committee include provisions for
incorporating the testing, awards recognition, fitness events and incentive programs designed under the auspices of the president's
council on physical fitness and sports and which requires the
participation through grade nine of each student and of each
school in the State in both the challenge program and the state
champion program of the council, including the modified test for
exceptional students, and including participation in national
physical fitness and sports month in May of each year by each
school in the State; and, be it
Further Resolved, That in conducting its study, the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance consult with the State
Superintendent of Schools, educational associations, parent- teacher associations, representatives of county school boards and
representatives of other interested groups; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance make a report of its findings, conclusions and
recommendations, together with a draft of any legislation or
legislative rules necessary to effectuate its recommendations to
the Legislature at the beginning of the 2000 Regular Session;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct
this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary
legislation be paid from the legislative appropriations to the
Joint Committee on Government and Finance.