HF 476

1st Engrossment - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; enacting the American Heritage 
  1.3             Education in Minnesota Public Schools Act; proposing 
  1.4             coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 120B.
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [120B.25] [AMERICAN HERITAGE EDUCATION.] 
  1.7      (a) School districts must develop and implement a policy of 
  1.8   grade-level instruction to assure the maintenance of freedom and 
  1.9   encourage and provide the opportunity for all students to read 
  1.10  and study America's founding documents that contribute to 
  1.11  understanding the principles, character, and world view of 
  1.12  America's founders.  The documents covered under this policy are 
  1.13  those that have contributed to the founding or maintaining of 
  1.14  America's republican form of limited government, natural law, 
  1.15  the free-market system, and patriotism.  Districts must allow a 
  1.16  principal or teacher to use, read, or post in a public school 
  1.17  classroom or building or at a public school-sponsored event any 
  1.18  document or document excerpt, including a document or document 
  1.19  excerpt that contains religious content, related to the history, 
  1.20  heritage, or foundation of the country or Minnesota.  Examples 
  1.21  of such documents include, but are not limited to: 
  1.22     (1) the Mayflower compact; 
  1.23     (2) the Declaration of Independence; 
  1.24     (3) the Constitutions of the United States and the state of 
  1.25  Minnesota; 
  2.1      (4) the Northwest Ordinance of 1787; 
  2.2      (5) the Federalist Papers; 
  2.3      (6) the Pledge of Allegiance in its original and current 
  2.4   forms; 
  2.5      (7) the national anthem and other patriotic songs; 
  2.6      (8) Patrick Henry's "give me liberty or give me death" 
  2.7   speech, Washington's farewell address to the nation, Lincoln's 
  2.8   Gettysburg address, and other writings such as those of George 
  2.9   Washington Carver, Phyllis Wheatley, Florence Nightingale, and 
  2.10  Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr.; 
  2.11     (9) the acts and published records of Congress; and 
  2.12     (10) the United States Supreme Court decisions and records. 
  2.13     (b) Districts may not limit or restrain instruction in 
  2.14  American or Minnesota state history or heritage based on 
  2.15  religious references in documents, writings, speeches, 
  2.16  proclamations, or records described under paragraph (a).  These 
  2.17  and any other materials must be used for educational purposes 
  2.18  and not to establish any religion. 
  2.19     (c) Students may voluntarily choose to read, write, share, 
  2.20  report, or otherwise study a topic which is religious in nature 
  2.21  provided other students are provided with the same opportunity 
  2.22  to freely choose a topic. 
  2.23     [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 
  2.24  following final enactment. 
  2.25     Sec. 2.  [TITLE.] 
  2.26     Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.25, shall be known as the 
  2.27  "American Heritage Education in Minnesota Public Schools Act."  
  2.28     [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective the day 
  2.29  following final enactment.