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GENOCIDE EDUCATION BILL UNANIMOUSLY PASSES CALIF. ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE
http://asbarez.com/123425/genocide-education-bill-unanimously-passes-calif-assembly-committee/
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian speaks at the California State Assembly
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--On Friday, the California State Assembly
Appropriations Committee unanimously passed AB 1915, requiring the
inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in the list of studied subject
areas for the adopted courses of study in Social Science for 7-12,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region
(ANCA WR). The bill, authored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, also
recommends for the Department of Education to include the atrocities
of 1915 into publications and curriculum materials.
AB 1915, which had unanimously passed the California State Assembly
Education Committee in early April will now move on to the full
Assembly floor for consideration.
"As AB 1915 advances for a floor vote, I look forward to working
with my colleagues in the Assembly and the ANCA-WR to ensure swift
passage for this vital measure. Education on human rights and the
Armenian genocide is an important component that should be broadly
incorporated in our curriculum. This has been a long time coming,
and I am so pleased from the broad range of support for this measure,"
stated Assemblymember Nazarian.
Earlier in the week, ANCA Western Region Executive Director Elen
Asatryan submitted a strongly worded letter in support of AB1915
on behalf of the organization noting "Despite the existence of the
provision within the framework (pursuant to AB 1273 which was enacted
in 1985), the Armenian Genocide is not taught in the overwhelming
majority of our public schools. The State Assembly recently passed
AB 659 which encourages inclusion of oral history components in the
instruction of human rights issues, including the Armenian Genocide.
This law is a step in the right direction, but not enough to achieve
the objective of instruction across all public schools across the
state. What is necessary is enactment of AB 1915 which would mandate
such instruction while providing teachers with the tools that they
need".
"Within the context of modern world history, the Armenian Genocide
was a pivotal event which served as a progenitor to the Holocaust and
subsequent genocides. Consequently, the Holocaust (which must be taught
per state law) cannot be taught or understood comprehensively without
instructing students about the Armenian Genocide," she continued.
In the weeks leading up to State Assembly consideration of the measure,
the ANCA Western Region worked closely with legislators to ensure
they learned of the broad, enthusiastic support for the measure,
especially during the organization's 2014 Advocacy Day when over
350 activists from California including a group of students from San
Marino High School who have taken up the Genocide Education as their
senior project, met with over 70 California legislators.
On Wednesday April 9, ANCA Western Region Education Committee
Chair Alice Petrossian and ANCA Western Region Education Committee
Executive Member and writer Kay Mouradian testified in front of the the
California State Assembly Education Committee in support of the bill
along with joint author of AB 1915 Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian,
and Assembly Education Committee members, Chair Joan Buchanan and
Assemblymember Rocky J. Chavez prior to its unanimous passed.
Further, earlier this year, the State Assembly Education and
Appropriations Committees unanimously adopted AB 659, another bill
introduced by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian. The bill, which is on its
way to the California State Senate, encourages schools to use oral
histories when teaching about the Armenian Genocide and other acts
against humanity. AB 659 set the stage for the presentation of AB1915.
Once adopted by the full State Assembly and the State Senate and
signed into law by the Governor, AB 1915 would codify the Armenian
Genocide into the curriculum of 7th to 12th grade Social Science
and History classes. It would also recommend publication about the
Armenian Genocide and other genocides including Cambodia, Rwanda and
Darfur in instructional materials provided to instructors about crimes
against humanity.
Currently, California is one of 11 states, including Georgia, Illinois,
Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode
Island, and Virginia, which have the Armenian Genocide included
in their curriculum. The California Model Curriculum developed
by the Department of Education, includes the Armenian Genocide as
a recommended topic to teach. However, schools aren't required to
follow this Model Curriculum.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.
http://asbarez.com/123425/genocide-education-bill-unanimously-passes-calif-assembly-committee/
Friday, May 23rd, 2014
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian speaks at the California State Assembly
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--On Friday, the California State Assembly
Appropriations Committee unanimously passed AB 1915, requiring the
inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in the list of studied subject
areas for the adopted courses of study in Social Science for 7-12,
reported the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region
(ANCA WR). The bill, authored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, also
recommends for the Department of Education to include the atrocities
of 1915 into publications and curriculum materials.
AB 1915, which had unanimously passed the California State Assembly
Education Committee in early April will now move on to the full
Assembly floor for consideration.
"As AB 1915 advances for a floor vote, I look forward to working
with my colleagues in the Assembly and the ANCA-WR to ensure swift
passage for this vital measure. Education on human rights and the
Armenian genocide is an important component that should be broadly
incorporated in our curriculum. This has been a long time coming,
and I am so pleased from the broad range of support for this measure,"
stated Assemblymember Nazarian.
Earlier in the week, ANCA Western Region Executive Director Elen
Asatryan submitted a strongly worded letter in support of AB1915
on behalf of the organization noting "Despite the existence of the
provision within the framework (pursuant to AB 1273 which was enacted
in 1985), the Armenian Genocide is not taught in the overwhelming
majority of our public schools. The State Assembly recently passed
AB 659 which encourages inclusion of oral history components in the
instruction of human rights issues, including the Armenian Genocide.
This law is a step in the right direction, but not enough to achieve
the objective of instruction across all public schools across the
state. What is necessary is enactment of AB 1915 which would mandate
such instruction while providing teachers with the tools that they
need".
"Within the context of modern world history, the Armenian Genocide
was a pivotal event which served as a progenitor to the Holocaust and
subsequent genocides. Consequently, the Holocaust (which must be taught
per state law) cannot be taught or understood comprehensively without
instructing students about the Armenian Genocide," she continued.
In the weeks leading up to State Assembly consideration of the measure,
the ANCA Western Region worked closely with legislators to ensure
they learned of the broad, enthusiastic support for the measure,
especially during the organization's 2014 Advocacy Day when over
350 activists from California including a group of students from San
Marino High School who have taken up the Genocide Education as their
senior project, met with over 70 California legislators.
On Wednesday April 9, ANCA Western Region Education Committee
Chair Alice Petrossian and ANCA Western Region Education Committee
Executive Member and writer Kay Mouradian testified in front of the the
California State Assembly Education Committee in support of the bill
along with joint author of AB 1915 Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian,
and Assembly Education Committee members, Chair Joan Buchanan and
Assemblymember Rocky J. Chavez prior to its unanimous passed.
Further, earlier this year, the State Assembly Education and
Appropriations Committees unanimously adopted AB 659, another bill
introduced by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian. The bill, which is on its
way to the California State Senate, encourages schools to use oral
histories when teaching about the Armenian Genocide and other acts
against humanity. AB 659 set the stage for the presentation of AB1915.
Once adopted by the full State Assembly and the State Senate and
signed into law by the Governor, AB 1915 would codify the Armenian
Genocide into the curriculum of 7th to 12th grade Social Science
and History classes. It would also recommend publication about the
Armenian Genocide and other genocides including Cambodia, Rwanda and
Darfur in instructional materials provided to instructors about crimes
against humanity.
Currently, California is one of 11 states, including Georgia, Illinois,
Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode
Island, and Virginia, which have the Armenian Genocide included
in their curriculum. The California Model Curriculum developed
by the Department of Education, includes the Armenian Genocide as
a recommended topic to teach. However, schools aren't required to
follow this Model Curriculum.
The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region is the
largest and most influential Armenian American grassroots advocacy
organization in the Western United States. Working in coordination
with a network of offices, chapters, and supporters throughout the
Western United States and affiliated organizations around the country,
the ANCA-WR advances the concerns of the Armenian American community
on a broad range of issues.