Rep. Moolenaar offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 26.

            A resolution to urge the Michigan State Board of Education to incorporate information about William Wilberforce into the social studies curriculum related to slavery.

            Whereas, A sound background in history is an important tool for understanding our world and making choices about the future. History informs us of the long and often twisting path that led to the creation of the world we know today. Our forebears' problems, crises, and triumphs place our controversies in context and show that we, too, can rise to our challenges; and

            Whereas, The Michigan State Board of Education is a constitutional office charged with many duties to directly and indirectly supervise our educational system from kindergarten to higher education. The board is part of a long tradition of state interest in public education and our appreciation for what an educated population may accomplish. The board has eight voting members elected by the voters of the state. The board appoints a superintendent of public instruction who is a nonvoting member of the board. The governor is also a nonvoting member of the board. Strengthening and directing our school curriculum to prepare our children to take charge of their future is an important leadership role for our board; and

            Whereas, The lifelong work of William Wilberforce, who was born in England in 1759, played a long and important role in influencing our history. By the time we confronted our growing divisions over owning slaves in the middle of the 19th century, William Wilberforce had helped make slavery a practice viewed with repugnance by much of the Western world. As we struggled with the problems of being a new republic, William Wilberforce dedicated his life to ending slavery. He was elected to the British Parliament and repeatedly introduced legislation in opposition to slavery, despite the opposition of his colleagues. His efforts contributed to the eventual passage in 1807 of the Abolition of Slave Trade Act, a crucial step in this fight. William Wilberforce also took a leadership role in the Antislavery Society. Truly, his 46-year struggle in opposition to the terrible system of slavery is a worthy story of courage in the service of determination to right injustice; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Michigan State Board of Education to incorporate information about William Wilberforce into the social studies curriculum related to slavery; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the members of the Michigan State Board of Education.