BILL NUMBER: ACR 154	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  AUGUST 7, 2014
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 11, 2014
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 6, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gray
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Olsen)
   (Coauthors: Senators Cannella and Galgiani)

                        MAY 27, 2014

   Relative to pupil instruction.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 154, Gray. Modesto City Schools: World Geography-World
Religions class.
   This measure would acknowledge and applaud the Modesto City
Schools' initiative and achievement in teaching the unique World
Geography-World Religions class as a grade 9 required course for the
last 15 years, and would recommend that the class be considered for
adoption by other school districts in the state.



   WHEREAS, The United States Declaration of Independence states that
all men are created equal, and the Holy Sikh Scriptures contain
hymns like, "One Father, and we are children of the One" and
"Recognize ye, all Humanity as the Same"; and
   WHEREAS, Sikhism has 25 million followers, and is the fifth
largest world religion after Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and
Buddhism; and
   WHEREAS, Nearly 300,000 residents of California are Sikhs, who, by
the dint of their hard work, have distinguished themselves in all
fields, as documented in Resolution Chapter 161 of the Statutes of
2010, Resolution Chapter 60 of the Statutes of 2012, and Resolution
Chapter 105 of the Statutes of 2013; and
   WHEREAS, Sikhism was founded in Northwestern India by Guru Nanak
(1469-1539) and is not a branch of another religion, and Sikhs now
have global distribution with Gurdwaras in more than 72 countries;
and
   WHEREAS, Large numbers of Americans are physically or
psychologically attacked on the basis of their race, skin color,
ethnicity, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, sex,
gender identity, religion, culture, or age; and
   WHEREAS, Turbaned Sikh children experience bullying at more than
double the national rate; and
   WHEREAS, The 115-member Community Safe Schools Committee of
Modesto met for 14 months and presented in 1998 a set of principles
affirming respect for all; and, since 1999, the Modesto City Schools
has engaged in the nation's most direct experiment in using the
public school curriculum to promote respect for religious freedom and
diversity; and
   WHEREAS, The Modesto City Schools' World Geography-World Religions
class examines the geographical location, history, culture, and
major beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity,
and Islam; and
   WHEREAS, The nine character traits of responsibility and respect,
which are courage, honesty, loyalty, respect, responsibility,
civility, compassion, initiative, and perseverance, are stressed
throughout the class, and pupils are taught how to make appropriate
comments without offending other pupils; and
   WHEREAS, The class has been very successful in helping Sikh pupils
feel more accepted and in helping pupils understand their First
Amendment rights, understand and practice the character traits of
respect and responsibility, become informed about the religious
diversity in their community and the world, and obtain greater
understanding about the six major world religions; and
   WHEREAS, The Modesto City Schools is perhaps the only school
district in the state that requires all pupils to learn about and
understand world religions; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature acknowledges and applauds
the Modesto City Schools' initiative and achievements in teaching the
unique World Geography-World Religions class as a grade 9 required
course for the last 15 years, and recommends that the class be
considered for adoption by other school districts in the state; and
be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution to the
Members of the Legislature, the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
the county superintendents of schools for transmission to all school
district superintendents, and other interested organizations or
persons.