January 16 — Temperance & Good Citizenship Day: A Timeline
A brief history of a law unique to Washington state that promotes civics education and peaceful citizen engagement for students
1923: Washington State Legislature establishes Temperance and Good Citizenship Day
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28A.230.150 reads in part: “On January 16th of each year or the preceding Friday when January 16th falls on a nonschool day, there shall be observed within each public school Temperance and Good Citizenship Day.”
1969: Washington State Legislature amends Temperance and Good Citizenship Day
Changes in RCW 28A.230.150 expand the focus of this public school observance, allowing schools to emphasize the rights and duties of citizenship. The new wording includes the following directive: “Annually the state superintendent of public instruction shall duly prepare and publish for circulation among the teachers of the state a program for use on such day embodying topics pertinent thereto and may from year to year designate particular laws for special observance.”
2009: Washington State Legislature establishes civics requirement for graduation
RCW 28A.230.090 increases the number of course credits in social studies required for high school graduation from 2.5 to 3.0, with a .5 credit for civics now required. This requirement applies to all students in the graduating class of 2016 and beyond.
2012: OSPI launches Civic Education Initiative
The Office of the Superintendent begins a campaign to emphasize the importance of preparing students for civic readiness; this is in response to the new graduation requirements in social studies for the graduating class of 2016 and beyond. Information on this initiative can be found at: http://www.k12.wa.us/SocialStudies/CivicEducation.aspx
2013: Washington State Legislature passes budget bill and proviso
Budget bill (3ESSB-5034) includes a proviso that directs the superintendent of public instruction to update the program prepared and distributed under RCW 28A.230.150 for the observance of Temperance and Good Citizenship Day to include providing an opportunity for eligible students to register to vote at school. A link to the budget bill and proviso can be found at: http://leap.leg.wa.gov/leap/budget/lbns/1315Omni5034-S.SL.pdf
2014: Cascade Middle School hosts Temperance and Good Citizenship Day program
Students at Cascade Middle School become a part of history by participating in the Gilder Lehrman American History Teacher of the Year program as a part of the Temperance and Good Citizenship Day observance. Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn and Representative Steve Bergquist attend this observance, which marks the official launch of the voter registration proviso (budget Bill 3ESSB-5034) that Representative Bergquist introduced during the 2013 legislative session.
2014: Throwback to Secretary of State Statement
In observance of Temperance and Good Citizenship Day, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Office of Secretary of State will provide all eligible high school students the opportunity to register to vote at school this Thursday. The event is meant to promote civics education and peaceful citizen engagement. Helping every student in Washington register to vote is an important part of that process, said Secretary of State Kim Wyman.
“Though many students would hate the idea of their parents making every decision for them, they forget that’s essentially what happens when they don’t vote for themselves,” said Wyman. “By providing immediate access to registration, we hope to empower students. To remind these young citizens that they have an indispensable voice in shaping the future of our state, nation and world.”
First-time voters in Washington must register in person at their county elections department. More information on elections by county can be found here.
To register to vote in Washington State, you must be:
- A citizen of the United States;
- A legal resident of Washington State;
- At least 18 years old by Election Day;
- Not disqualified from voting due to a court order; and
- Not under Department of Corrections supervision for a Washington felony conviction.
OSPI seeks voter registration summaries
The Social Studies Program at OSPI invites teachers, schools, and/or districts across Washington State to submit by email to Program Supervisor Carol Coe (carol.coe@k12.wa.us) summaries of their voter registration programs. These will be compiled and shared via Social Studies Teachers (SST) Connect.
More about social studies in Washington: http://k12.wa.us/SocialStudies/default.aspx
