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HJ0073 |
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LRB093 21492 HSS 49160 r |
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| HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, Quality education is crucial to the future of our |
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| State; and
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| WHEREAS, Access to quality education is the entryway to |
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| opportunity; and
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| WHEREAS, Quality education provided in a universal setting |
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| enriches the learning experience for all children; and
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| WHEREAS, Quality education for every citizen regardless of |
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| race, religion, ethnic background, sex, disability/handicap, |
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| or economic circumstance is an indispensable goal in our |
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| society; and
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| WHEREAS, On May 17, 1954, in a historic and unanimous |
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| decision, the United States Supreme Court, in Brown v. Board of |
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| Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), ruled that public education is |
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| subject to the equal protection provisions of the United States |
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| Constitution; and
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| WHEREAS, The Court based its decision on the premise that |
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| to separate children according to their race was unfair, |
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| diminishing their hopes and their futures; and
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| WHEREAS, That decision has had a profound, significant, and |
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| beneficial impact on all aspects of life in the United States; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, The significant contributions of citizens of this |
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| State were essential to the ultimate success of that 58-year |
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| battle for justice; and
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| WHEREAS, Those contributions made through lawful and |
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| peaceful means stand as worthy models of the benefit of public |
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HJ0073 |
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LRB093 21492 HSS 49160 r |
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| education and good citizenship; and
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| WHEREAS, The benefits to Illinois are everywhere, to be |
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| seen in the contributions by Illinois citizens, not only in |
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| education, but in government, the arts, business, and other |
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| civic undertakings; and
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| WHEREAS, Many of the promises and goals of that decision |
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| still remain unmet; and
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| WHEREAS, The future of public education is dependent on the |
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| continued resolve of all to provide a quality education without |
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| regard to race, color, creed, sex, national origin, religion, |
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| disability/handicap, or social economic status; and
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| WHEREAS, The 50th Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of |
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| Education decision presents an opportunity for the 120,000 |
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| members of the Illinois Education Association to celebrate and |
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| commemorate our State's success in providing quality public |
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| education, recognize the fruits of that success, and reinforce |
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| and strengthen its commitment to achieving the goal and promise |
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| of quality education; and
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| WHEREAS, May 17, 2004 is the 50th anniversary of this |
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| historic event; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
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| NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE |
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| SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that May 17, 2004 be designated a |
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| special day of remembrance, reflection, and gratitude for the |
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| efforts of so many American men and women that helped bring |
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| about the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision that |
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| has enriched the lives of every American and helped bring our |
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| country closer to the goal of achieving equality and justice |
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| for all.
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