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Toronto District School Board Reaffirms Teaching of Armenian Genocid

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  • Toronto District School Board Reaffirms Teaching of Armenian Genocid

    Armenian National Committee of Canada
    Comité National Arménien du Canada
    130 Albert St., Suite/Bureau 1007
    Ottawa, ON
    KIP 5G4
    Tel./Tél. (613) 235-2622 Fax/Téléc. (613) 238-2622
    E-mail/courriel:national.office@anc-canad a.com
    www.anccanada.org

    PRESS RELEASE

    June 3, 2008
    Contact: Roupen Kouyoumjian

    Toronto District School Board Reaffirms the Teaching of the Armenian Genocide

    Toronto--At a special meeting on June 2 the Program and School
    Services Committee (PSSC) of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
    unanimously approved the recommendation of its Review Committee (RC)
    and its Director to include the Armenian Genocide in its Grade 11
    genocide curriculum. Turkish groups have, in the past six months,
    lobbied against the inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in the Grade 11
    curriculum. The PSSC recommendation now goes to the board's June 25th
    meeting for final adoption.

    At the beginning of the meeting, the committee provided 20 minutes
    each for the Turkish and Ukrainian community representatives to make
    an oral deputation in regard to their concerns about the curriculum.

    The Council of Turkish Canadians (CTC) objected to the inclusion of
    the Armenian Genocide in the curriculum and called for its
    removal. Furthermore, CTC threatened to take legal measures to halt
    the introduction of the curriculum if the board did not consent to the
    CTC demand.

    A representative of the Muslim Canadian Congress, Farzana Hassan,
    turned the curriculum teaching issue to a religious crusade. She
    accused the board and the Western world of religious bias. She made
    similar accusations against Canadian media, specially the Globe and
    Mail and the Toronto Star newspapers. Two Turkish parents also made
    presentations.

    Ukrainian community representatives commended the board for
    introducing the "worthy program", but they objected to the omission of
    the Ukrainian famine/genocide from the curriculum. They urged the PSSC
    to reconsider the exclusion of the Ukrainian case.

    In responding to a question from trustee Gerri Gershon, David Rowan,
    associate director of TDSB, reassured the Ukrainian community that the
    Ukrainian famine /genocide, even though it is not in the curriculum as
    a separate unit on its own, it will be discussed and taught in many
    forms during the curriculum teaching.

    After the presentations, the committee unanimously voted to adopt the
    recommendations without any changes.

    Based on yesterday's meeting and the approval of the recommendations,
    the Armenian Genocide will be part of the Grade 11 genocide curriculum
    and it will be taught as one of the three case studies along with the
    Holocaust and the Rwandan Genocide and as a separate unit.

    In regard to Barbara Coloroso's book, Extraordinary Evil: A Brief
    History of Genocide, even though it will not be required reading, it
    will be included in the curriculum as resource material.

    Representatives of the Armenian National Committee of Canada (ANCC),
    the Greek and Cypriot communities, Zoryan Institute, the Armenian
    Certified Teachers Association, the Armenian Community Centre of
    Toronto, Armen Karo Student Association, the Armenian National
    Committee of Toronto, and many other supporters of the curriculum
    turned out in large numbers to attend the meeting.

    ANCC President, Dr. Girair Basmadjian, commended the TDSB for
    upholding its moral and ethical principles and for not wavering in the
    face of unprecedented revisionist campaign to falsify and rewrite the
    history of the Armenian Genocide. -By approving the recommendations,
    TDSB proved that the Turkish government interference and manipulation
    of academic institutions and its attempt to suppress freedom of
    expression is a failed policy. We are confident the curriculum will
    create better understanding between Turkish and Armenian students and
    will help them rationalize their common history,- stated
    Dr. Basmadjian

    Aris Babikian, executive director of ANCC, criticized the Turkish
    representatives who tried to use an educational forum to promote
    unsubstantiated accusation against the Armenian community by
    insinuating that Armenians are teaching hatred against Turks in their
    churches, schools and community centres. -Once again, we would like to
    emphasize that we do not have any conflict with the Canadian-Turkish
    community. At issue is the Turkish government's denial policy. A
    policy which Turkish ultranationalist are using to whip hysteria and
    animosity between the two people. A policy which simply does not fit
    with the school boards view of history, nor that of Canadians
    generally,- said Babikian.

    ***********

    The ANCC is the largest and the most influential Canadian-Armenian
    grassroots political organization. Working in coordination with a
    network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout Canada and
    affiliated organizations around the world, the ANCC actively advances
    the concerns of the Canadian-Armenian community on a broad range of
    issues.

    ------

    Le CNAC est l'organisation politique canadienne-arménienne la plus
    large et influentielle. Collaborant avec une série de bureaux,
    chapitres et souteneurs à travers le Canada et des organisations
    affiliées à travers le monde, le CNAC s'occupe activement des
    inquiétudes de la communauté canadienne-arménienne.


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