HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2008.01.17 - 9449REPORT (misc. #07277) January 17, 2008
BY: General Government Committee, Christine Long, Chairperson
IN RE: MR #07277 — Board of Commissioners — Support for Keeping Social Studies
on the Michigan Merit Examination
To: The Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The General Government Committee, having reviewed the above-referenced
resolution on January 7, 2008, reports with the recommendation that the resolution be
adopted.
Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move acceptance
of the foregoing report.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
General Government Committee:
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Suarez and
Greimel absent.
Miscellaneous Resolution #07277
BY: Commissioners Hugh D. Crawford and Bill Bullard, Jr.
RE: Board of Commissioners — Support for Keeping Social Studies on the Michigan Merit
Examination
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the adopted Revised School Code for the State of Michigan and the State School Aid
Act provide that public school districts administer the Michigan Merit Exam (the successor to the
MEAP test) to assess 11 th grade students; and
WHEREAS the purpose of the Michigan Merit Examination is to assess pupil performance in
mathematics, science, social studies, and English language arts for the purpose of improving
academic achievement and establishing a statewide standard of competency. This assessment
contributes to the improvement of Michigan schools' curriculum and instruction by encouraging
alignment with national standards; and
WHEREAS Senate Bills 805 and 806 propose to eliminate social studies from the Michigan Merit
Examination. This would eliminate the related topics of: history, world history, world geography,
economics, and American government; and
WHEREAS the intention behind proposing to eliminate social studies is that itwill save taxpayers
money. However, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren, who is also a former
member of the State Board of Education, aptly notes in a November 27, 2007 Detroit Free Press
article that, "What is expected and tested is what will be taught and learned. Eliminating social
studies would all but be the death knell for civics, history, geography and economics in Michigan
high schools. For the sake of some savings now, we could be paying the ultimate price later;" and
WHEREAS the study of social studies forms the basic core of thought for growing inquiring minds.
This discipline is fundamental to nurturing students to have a meaningful understanding of effective
citizenry and good government; and
WHEREAS the study of social studies is the catalyst for learning about government and the values
of civic engagement, which will help children to grow into the leaders of tomorrow. Social Studies
assists young people in developing their ability to make informed and reasoned decisions for the
public good as citizens of a culturally diverse, democratic society and as a part of an interdependent
and global economy; and
WHEREAS the elimination of social studies from the Michigan Merit Examination has the
unintended consequence of sending out a shortsighted message that a rigorous and relevant social
studies curriculum is not important in preparing students for college, the workplace and towards
becoming active, responsible citizens.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby
supports maintaining social studies within the school districts and on the Michigan Merit
Examinations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners opposes Senate
Bills 805 and 806 and any efforts that would propose to eliminate social studies from the public
schools' curriculum and on the Michigan Merit Examination.
Cllairperon, we move the adoption
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of this
adopted resolution to Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren, Senator Michael
Switalski, Senator John Pappageorge, Senator Valde Garcia, Senator Roger Kahn, the Senate
Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Oakland County delegation
to the Michigan legislature, the Michigan Association of Counties and Oakland County's legislative
lobbyists.
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Resolution #07277 November 29, 2007
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.
Resolution #07277 January 17, 2008
Moved by Rogers supported by Gershenson the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the Consent
Agenda be adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
AYES: Burns, Coleman, Coulter, Crawford, Douglas, Gershenson, GingeU, Gosselin, Gregory,
Greimel, Jacobsen, KowaII, Long, Middleton, Nash, Potter, Potts, Rogers, Scott, Spector, Woodward,
Zack, Bullard. (23)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the Consent Agenda
were adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
OBES MT 11111111 CIMEY DEM VII
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
Ruth Johnson, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on January 17, 2008,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at Pontiac,
Michigan this 17th day of January, 2008.
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, COunty Clerk