WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan resolution cosponsored by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) designating today, October 20 as National Day on Writing to acknowledge the importance, impact, and versatility of personal, professional, and civics-driven writing.
“To lead the world in the 21st century economy, we must lead the world with 21st century education systems,” said Senator Casey. “National Day on Writing recognizes the importance of that goal and the importance writing plays in every person’s life.”
By recognizing the importance of writing, this resolution lauds educators who play a critical role in the lives of students as they engage in the “lifelong process of learning to write and compose for different audiences, purposes, and occasions.”
Senator Casey introduced the resolution along with Senators Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Pat Roberts (R-KS), Carl Levin (D-MI) Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
The full text of the resolution is below:
RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of October 20, 2011, as the ‘‘National Day on Writing’’.
Whereas people in the 21st century are writing more than ever before for personal, professional, and civic purposes;
Whereas the social nature of writing invites people of every age, profession, and walk of life to create meaning through composing;
Whereas more and more people in every occupation deem writing as essential and influential in their work;
Whereas writers continue to learn how to write for different purposes, audiences, and occasions throughout their lifetimes;
Whereas developing digital technologies expand the possibilities for composing in multiple media at a faster pace than ever before;
Whereas young people are leading the way in developing new forms of composing by using different forms of digital media;
Whereas effective communication contributes to building a global economy and a global community;
Whereas the National Council of Teachers of English, in conjunction with its many national and local partners, honors and celebrates the importance of writing through the
National Day on Writing;
Whereas the National Day on Writing celebrates the foundational place of writing in the personal, professional, and civic lives of the people of the United States;
Whereas the National Day on Writing provides an opportunity for individuals across the United States to share and exhibit their written works through the National Gallery
of Writing;
Whereas the National Day on Writing highlights the importance of writing instruction and practice at every educational level and in every subject area;
Whereas the National Day on Writing emphasizes the lifelong process of learning to write and compose for different audiences, purposes, and occasions;
Whereas the National Day on Writing honors the use of the full range of media for composing, from traditional tools like print, audio, and video, to Web 2.0 tools like blogs,
wikis, and podcasts; and
Whereas the National Day on Writing encourages all people of the United States to write, as well as to enjoy and learn from the writing of others: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) supports the designation of October 20, 2011, as the ‘‘National Day on Writing’’;
(2) strongly affirms the purposes of the National Day on Writing;
(3) encourages participation in the National Galley of Writing, which serves as an exemplary living archive of the centrality of writing in the lives of the people of the United States; and
(4) encourages educational institutions, businesses, community and civic associations, and other organizations to promote awareness of the National Day on Writing and celebrate the writing of the members those organizations through individual submissions to the National Gallery of Writing.
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