Amended in Senate August 6, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 154

Introduced by Assembly Member Gray

(Coauthor: Assembly Member Olsen)

(Coauthors: Senators Cannella and Galgiani)

May 27, 2014

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 154—Relative to pupil instruction.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 154, as amended, Gray. Modesto City Schools: World Geography-World begin delete Religion end delete begin insert Religions end insert class.

This measure would acknowledge and applaud the Modesto City Schools’ initiative and achievement in teaching the unique World Geography-World begin delete Religion end delete begin insert Religions end insert 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.

Fiscal committee: no.

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 begin delete Religion end delete begin insert Religions end insert 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, begin delete initiative end delete begin insert initiative, end insert 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 begin delete Religion end delete begin insert Religions end insert
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.