(1) Thanksgiving Day and December 25 are set apart as holidays for all the public schools, and boards of education are authorized to pay the salary of teachers of all schools that have not closed their term for the year at the same rate as if the teachers had taught school on those holidays; provided, that the failure to teach on any other day or days within the scholastic term shall not be counted as time for which salary shall be allowed.
(2) The governor shall proclaim February of each year as American history month in this state. The governor shall issue a proclamation calling upon all elementary school teachers and all teachers of American history in secondary schools to arrange special programs at some time during American history month, and calling upon the people of the entire state to observe it in some fitting manner, having as their objectives the advancement of the study of American history and the promotion of American heritage.
(3) The month of February of each and every year is officially recognized and designated as “Tennessee and American History Month,” and the public schools, colleges and universities shall give due regard to such.