HB197: Virginia history and United States Constitution; supplementary written materials on documents.
HOUSE BILL NO. 197
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 22.1-201 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 22.1-201. Study of documents of Virginia history and United States Constitution.
To increase knowledge of citizens' rights and responsibilities
thereunder and to enhance the understanding of Virginia's unique role in the
history of the United States, the Declaration of American Independence, the
general principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill
of Rights, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, the charters of the Virginia Company of
April 10, 1606, May 23, 1609,
and March 12, 1612, of The Virginia
Company, and the Virginia Declaration of Rights shall be
thoroughly explained and taught by teachers to pupils in public elementary,
middle, and high schools. Emphasis shall be given to the relationship between
these documents and Virginia history, and to
citizenship responsibilities inherent in the rights included in these
documents. Each teacher
shall ensure that all supplementary
written materials that
he uses to teach these
documents contain accurate restatements
of the principles contained in such
documents. Written examinations as to
each of such documents shall be given.
2. That the Department of Education shall develop guidelines for supplementary written materials that teachers use to teach the Declaration of American Independence, the general principles of the Constitution of the United States, including the Bill of Rights, the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom, the charters of the Virginia Company of April 10, 1606, May 23, 1609, and March 12, 1612, and the Virginia Declaration of Rights.