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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to required instruction for public

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schools; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring that the

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character-development program for kindergarten through

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grade 12 include conflict-resolution management; providing

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an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Subsection (2) of section 1003.42, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     1003.42  Required instruction.--

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     (2)  Members of the instructional staff of the public

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schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education and

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the district school board, shall teach efficiently and

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faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the

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highest standards for professionalism and historic accuracy,

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following the prescribed courses of study, and employing approved

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methods of instruction, the following:

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     (a)  The history and content of the Declaration of

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Independence, including national sovereignty, natural law, self-

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evident truth, equality of all persons, limited government,

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popular sovereignty, and inalienable rights of life, liberty, and

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property, and how they form the philosophical foundation of our

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government.

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     (b)  The history, meaning, significance, and effect of the

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provisions of the Constitution of the United States and

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amendments thereto, with emphasis on each of the 10 amendments

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that make up the Bill of Rights and how the constitution provides

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the structure of our government.

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     (c)  The arguments in support of adopting our republican

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form of government, as they are embodied in the most important of

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the Federalist Papers.

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     (d)  Flag education, including proper flag display and flag

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salute.

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     (e)  The elements of civil government, including the primary

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functions of and interrelationships between the Federal

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Government, the state, and its counties, municipalities, school

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districts, and special districts.

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     (f)  The history of the United States, including the period

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of discovery, early colonies, the War for Independence, the Civil

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War, the expansion of the United States to its present

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boundaries, the world wars, and the civil rights movement to the

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present. American history shall be viewed as factual, not as

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constructed, shall be viewed as knowable, teachable, and

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testable, and shall be defined as the creation of a new nation

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based largely on the universal principles stated in the

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Declaration of Independence.

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     (g)  The history of the Holocaust (1933-1945), the

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systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other

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groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of

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humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an investigation

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of human behavior, an understanding of the ramifications of

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prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an examination of what

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it means to be a responsible and respectful person, for the

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purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a pluralistic

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society and for nurturing and protecting democratic values and

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institutions.

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     (h)  The history of African Americans, including the history

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of African peoples before the political conflicts that led to the

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development of slavery, the passage to America, the enslavement

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experience, abolition, and the contributions of African Americans

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to society.

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     (i)  The elementary principles of agriculture.

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     (j)  The true effects of all alcoholic and intoxicating

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liquors and beverages and narcotics upon the human body and mind.

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     (k)  Kindness to animals.

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     (l)  The history of the state.

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     (m)  The conservation of natural resources.

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     (n)  Comprehensive health education that addresses concepts

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of community health; consumer health; environmental health;

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family life, including an awareness of the benefits of sexual

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abstinence as the expected standard and the consequences of

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teenage pregnancy; mental and emotional health; injury prevention

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and safety; nutrition; personal health; prevention and control of

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disease; and substance use and abuse.

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     (o)  Such additional materials, subjects, courses, or fields

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in such grades as are prescribed by law or by rules of the State

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Board of Education and the district school board in fulfilling

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the requirements of law.

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     (p)  The study of Hispanic contributions to the United

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States.

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     (q)  The study of women's contributions to the United

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States.

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     (r)  The nature and importance of free enterprise to the

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United States economy.

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     (s)  A character-development program in the elementary

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schools, similar to Character First or Character Counts, which is

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secular in nature. Beginning in school year 2004-2005, the

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character-development program shall be required in kindergarten

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through grade 12. Each district school board shall develop or

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adopt a curriculum for the character-development program that

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shall be submitted to the department for approval. The character-

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development curriculum shall emphasize stress the qualities of

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patriotism; responsibility; citizenship; kindness; respect for

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authority, life, liberty, and personal property; honesty;

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charity; self-control; racial, ethnic, and religious tolerance;

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and cooperation; and conflict-resolution management, including

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peer mediation.

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     (t)  In order to encourage patriotism, the sacrifices that

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veterans have made in serving our country and protecting

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democratic values worldwide. Such instruction must occur on or

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before Veterans' Day and Memorial Day. Members of the

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instructional staff are encouraged to use the assistance of local

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veterans when practicable.

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The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards and

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pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.

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     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.