Word.

Whereas Arts education comprises an array of disciplines including dance, music, theater, media arts, literature, design and visual arts; and

Whereas Arts education can help students develop a variety of skills such as
critical thinking and problem-solving; and

Whereas Arts education can help foster creative thinking and is an essential component of a basic education; and

Whereas The arts provide a way for the students to communicate and collaborate across language, cultural and other boundaries and can increase their global knowledge; and

Whereas The Commonwealth's educators are committed to developing and maintaining comprehensive arts curricullums and programming that follow the highest local, state, and national standards; and

Whereas The Commonwealth recognizes the importance that the arts play in the education of students across Massachusetts,

Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim September 2013 to be

ARTS IN EDUCATION MONTH

And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this nineteenth day in August, in the year two thousand and thirteen, and of the independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-seventh,

By His Excellency
[signed & sealed]
Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth

[signed]
William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth