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ANI: NJ Commission Introduces New Armenian Genocide Curriculum

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  • ANI: NJ Commission Introduces New Armenian Genocide Curriculum

    Armenian National Institute
    1518 K Street, NW Suite M
    Washington, D.C. 20005
    Phone: (202) 383-9009
    Fax: (202) 383-9012
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: www.armenian-genocide.org <http://www.armenian-genocide.org/>


    PRESS RELEASE
    June 23, 2005


    NEW JERSEY COMMISSION ON HOLOCAUST EDUCATION INTRODUCES NEW ARMENIAN
    GENOCIDE CURRICULUM

    The State of New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education announced on
    June 20, 2005, the introduction of a new human rights and genocide
    curriculum focusing on the Armenian Genocide. The curriculum represents
    a new threshold in public education on the Armenian Genocide - making NJ
    the first state in the country to recommend comprehensive courses on the
    subject to teachers in public and private schools.

    Holocaust and genocide education has received strong support from both
    legislators and educators in the state. As such, the NJ Commission on
    Holocaust Education developed one of the earliest models for teaching
    the Armenian Genocide and this year, on the occasion of the 90th
    anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, adopted the outstanding new
    resource book entitled "Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: the
    Genocide of the Armenians" developed by Facing History and Ourselves
    Foundation (FHAO) of Brookline, Massachusetts, as its new curriculum.
    Additionally, the Commission developed a special teacher's guide for the
    FHAO resource book, which it is distributing to educators statewide.

    Executive Director of the Commission, Dr. Paul Winkler, who announced
    the new curriculum at a press conference in the State House, thanked the
    Armenian National Institute (ANI) for its cooperation in developing the
    NJ teacher's guide and for originally alerting the Commission of the new
    advances in teaching about the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Winkler also
    recognized the Armenian Assembly of America for bringing this initiative
    to the attention of then NJ Governor James McGreevy two years ago.

    The Commission on Holocaust Education is an official body of the state
    of New Jersey, which was established in 1982 under Governor Tom Kean as
    the Council on Holocaust Education. Later, Governor McGreevy, as a
    state Assemblyman, voted to make the council a permanent commission and
    introduced the original mandate legislation. In 1991 Governor James
    Florio signed the legislation establishing the Commission and in 1994,
    Governor Christine Todd Whitman enacted the law mandating the teaching
    of the Holocaust and genocide. Current acting Governor and President of
    the Senate Richard J. Codey has been a strong advocate of Holocaust and
    genocide education.

    Prior to the announcement on the new curriculum, the General Assembly
    passed a resolution commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Armenian
    Genocide. The resolution was cosponsored by Assemblywoman Joan Voss and
    Assemblyman Robert Gordon. Introducing the resolution, Assemblywoman
    Voss, a former history teacher, spoke about the importance of
    remembrance and education. "The world closed its eyes to the Armenian
    Genocide," Voss said. "It is frightening how similar the Holocaust was
    to the Armenian Genocide."

    Assemblyman Gordon, in his remarks on the floor noted that "the emotion
    runs strong in the Armenian community for their losses in the Armenian
    Genocide." They were joined by colleagues who made additional floor
    statements. Assemblyman William Payne, also an educator, invoked the
    memory of Reverend Martin Luther King in defending human rights.
    Assemblyman Bill Baroni spoke of the challenges Armenia continues to
    face in its relations with modern-day Turkey.

    Former New Jersey Assembly Speaker Chuck Haytaian was also on hand as a
    special guest for the bill's passage. He was recognized in the Assembly
    by the current speaker, Albio Sires, and given the floor after a
    standing ovation by former colleagues from both sides of the aisle. He
    spoke movingly of the losses in his family during the Armenian Genocide
    and of the importance of continuing to stand witness to the memory of
    the victims and the survivors. He was joined in the gallery by other
    guests from the Armenian-American community, clergy, and students from
    the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey.

    The bill's passage was followed by a press conference. Voss told members
    of the media that New Jersey is one of the few states that has mandated
    teaching on human rights and genocide and commended the Commission for
    its leadership role. ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian, for his part,
    thanked all the educators and curriculum developers of the New Jersey
    Commission including Helen Simpkins, Vernoy Paolini, Gary Kulhanjian,
    and Dr. Joan Rivitz, for their commitment to human rights education, and
    Dr. Mary Johnson of FHAO who coordinated with the Commission. FHAO was
    represented at the press conference by Shannon Planck.

    The Armenian National Institute is a Washington-based organization
    dedicated to the study, research, and affirmation of the Armenian
    Genocide.
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