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GenEd and California Department of Education Working Together

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  • GenEd and California Department of Education Working Together

    The Genocide Education Project
    51 Commonwealth Avenue
    San Francisco, CA 94118
    (415) 264-4203
    [email protected]
    www.GenocideEducation.org
    www.TeachGenocide.com

    Contact: Raffi Momjian ([email protected])

    JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/genedpro


    GENED AND CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WORKING TOGETHER
    Teacher survey and joint projects initiated

    SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The Genocide Education Project (GenEd) and the
    California Department of Education have initiated a working relationship
    aimed at expanding instruction of the Armenian Genocide to more schools
    across California. Through the efforts of Murad Minasian, the
    Armenian-American community liaison for the Superintendent of Public
    Instruction, Tom Torlakson, GenEd is collaborating with the
    Superintendent's office on a long-term strategic plan to insure that
    students in the state's public high school system have the benefit of
    lessons on the Armenian Genocide and the pattern of genocides that
    followed it.

    Although California law requires instruction on the Armenian Genocide,
    particularly during 10th grade World History courses, many social
    studies educators are unaware of the mandate or lack the appropriate
    teaching materials and training to carry it out. Torlakson was made
    aware of the problem while campaigning for the office of Superintendent
    last year, and he vowed to work on ways to solve it. As a preliminary
    step, Torlakson assigned his staff to work with GenEd to develop and
    administer an online survey, gathering information from high school
    educators about the extent of instruction about the Armenian Genocide in
    their classrooms.

    "Working with the Superintendent's office has been very encouraging,"
    said Raffi Momjian, GenEd's Executive Director. "He and his staff
    demonstrate a commitment to understanding how efficiently the Armenian
    Genocide is being taught, the obstacles teachers face, and devising ways
    to bring this subject to students more effectively."

    The online survey was composed by GenEd and disseminated by the
    Department of Education to schools and district offices in October. Many
    respondents reported spending minimal time and resources on teaching the
    Armenian Genocide, but expressed a willingness to include more
    instruction if offered training and appropriate teaching materials.

    Momjian and Minasian met with Torlakson to discuss a variety of options
    for reaching teachers and addressing their needs.

    "It was reassuring to learn of the various teaching resources and
    training The Genocide Education Project provides to help teachers meet
    the requirements on teaching about the Genocide," said Minasian. "The
    Armenian-American community strongly supported Superintendent Torlakson
    in the campaign. We must now help provide his office real solutions for
    making sure the Armenian Genocide is taught across the state. Having an
    organization like The Genocide Education Project to fill that gap is an
    essential part of the formula."

    "We should take all possible steps to make sure our history is taught as
    accurately and completely as possible," said State Superintendent of
    Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. "I commend the Genocide Education
    Project for informing me about their concerns about the inconsistent
    manner in which the Armenian Genocide, and other genocides, are
    currently taught. I look forward to continued discussion and research
    that will enrich our understanding of this tragic event."

    The Genocide Education Project is a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3)
    organization that assists educators in teaching about human rights and
    genocide, particularly the Armenian Genocide, by developing and
    distributing instructional materials, providing access to teaching
    resources and organizing educational workshops.

    ####

    For story and photo(s), go to:
    http://www.genocideeducation.org/pr/2012/01_04_2012.htm

    Photo Caption:
    Murad Minasian (Left) and Raffi Momjian, GenEd Executive Director
    (Right), at meeting with Superintendent Tom Torlakson






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