SENATE MEMORIAL 41

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

Howie C. Morales

A MEMORIAL

CELEBRATING THE NATIONAL HISTORY DAY PROGRAM; DECLARING FEBRUARY 5, 2018 "NATIONAL HISTORY DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, national history day has been the premier history research contest with a national scope for more than thirty years; and

     WHEREAS, national history day supports social studies classrooms in public, private and charter schools in both urban and rural communities across the state; and

     WHEREAS, more than four thousand five hundred students aged nine to eighteen participate in national history day programs in nearly fifty schools statewide; and

     WHEREAS, national history day students develop college and career readiness in areas of scholarly research, analysis, synthesis, critical thinking, reading, writing, time management and orally defending their work; and

     WHEREAS, many national history day students develop technology-based skills, such as web development, filmmaking and incorporating digital media in nondigital projects; and

     WHEREAS, national history day students show improved test scores across subject areas, including reading, writing, science and math; and

     WHEREAS, national history day students demonstrate perseverance, often spending an entire academic year developing and revising projects; and

     WHEREAS, national history day inspires interest and value in history as well as a more mature perspective on current events and the dispositions needed in an informed citizenry; and

     WHEREAS, the national history day program instills confidence in students for a number of applied skills, such as communication, organization, collaboration, evaluation, planning and general knowledge; and

     WHEREAS, national history day encourages students to engage with civic institutions, such as libraries, museums, archives and institutions of higher learning; and

     WHEREAS, the academic benefits of participating in national history day can continue long after the student has left the program;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that in recognition of the contributions of national history day to the state, February 5, 2018 be declared "National History Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to New Mexico's national history day sponsoring organization, the New Mexico humanities council.

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