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Gov. Blagojevich signs law expanding genocide education in Illinois
Studies will now include recent atrocities in Armenia, Ukraine,
Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of the Governor of Illinois
August 5, 2005
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed House
Bill (HB) 312 into law, expanding Holocaust and genocide education for
Illinois elementary and high school students. In addition to learning
about the Nazi atrocities of the 20th century, students will now learn
about more recent acts of genocide around the world, including those
in Armenia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan. In June,
the governor signed legislation making Illinois the first state in the
nation to end state investment in Sudan, cutting all state financial
ties with the oppressive and genocidal Sudanese government.
"As we teach our kids the important lessons of history, we have to be
sure that they understand that racial, national, ethnic and religious
hatred can lead to horrible tragedies," said Gov. Blagojevich. "Sadly,
these are not just the problems of our parents' or grandparents'
generations. We have to make sure our schools teach the importance
of embracing differences among people and encourage students to fight
intolerance and hatred wherever they see it."
Sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) and Sen. Jacqueline Collins
(D-Chicago), HB 312 expands the previous requirement for Illinois
public elementary schools and high schools to teach a unit on genocide
focused on the events of the Nazi Holocaust of 1933 to 1945. The
new unit of instruction required by HB 312 will include, but is not
limited to: the Armenian Genocide; the Famine-Genocide in Ukraine;
and more recent atrocities in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan.
"In light of the culturally diverse population in Illinois and our
increasingly global society, we must ensure that the tragedy of the
Holocaust is not painted with an isolated brush," stated the bill's
chief sponsor, Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago). "In order to fully
comprehend the inhumanity of genocide, students need to be able to
understand the indifference that has allowed it to repeatedly occur
around the world through history and up to today."
The law states that the State Board of Education may make available
to Illinois schools instructional materials for the development of
this unit of instruction. Each local school district will set the
specifics of the instruction for each grade level in its schools.
"By studying these tragic lessons from history, we can
help our children understand the importance of freedom," said
Sen. Collins. "When they recognize that crimes of genocide continue
in some corners of the world, even in the 21st century, it will raise
their awareness and help them understand what can happen when you
judge people by their race, their homeland or their beliefs."
"We applaud Governor Blagojevich for breaking new ground by signing
into law this important educational initiative, a measure which comes
fifteen years after the landmark Illinois Holocaust Education Mandate
was first enacted," said Richard S. Hirschhaut, Project and Executive
Director of the new Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.
"The new law affirms the continuing relevance of applying the universal
lessons of the Holocaust to the tragedies of genocide in our world
today. We look forward to bringing these important lessons to future
generations through the facilities of the new Illinois Holocaust
Museum and Education Center."
In June, the governor signed Senate Bill 23, making Illinois the
first state in the nation to cut all state financial ties with the
oppressive and genocidal Sudanese government. The bill, sponsored by
Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) and Rep Lovana Jones (D-Chicago),
prohibits Illinois from investing in foreign government bonds of Sudan,
investing in companies doing business in or with Sudan, and investing
the State pension in companies doing business in or with Sudan.
HB 312 goes into effect immediately.
Studies will now include recent atrocities in Armenia, Ukraine,
Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of the Governor of Illinois
August 5, 2005
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed House
Bill (HB) 312 into law, expanding Holocaust and genocide education for
Illinois elementary and high school students. In addition to learning
about the Nazi atrocities of the 20th century, students will now learn
about more recent acts of genocide around the world, including those
in Armenia, Ukraine, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan. In June,
the governor signed legislation making Illinois the first state in the
nation to end state investment in Sudan, cutting all state financial
ties with the oppressive and genocidal Sudanese government.
"As we teach our kids the important lessons of history, we have to be
sure that they understand that racial, national, ethnic and religious
hatred can lead to horrible tragedies," said Gov. Blagojevich. "Sadly,
these are not just the problems of our parents' or grandparents'
generations. We have to make sure our schools teach the importance
of embracing differences among people and encourage students to fight
intolerance and hatred wherever they see it."
Sponsored by Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) and Sen. Jacqueline Collins
(D-Chicago), HB 312 expands the previous requirement for Illinois
public elementary schools and high schools to teach a unit on genocide
focused on the events of the Nazi Holocaust of 1933 to 1945. The
new unit of instruction required by HB 312 will include, but is not
limited to: the Armenian Genocide; the Famine-Genocide in Ukraine;
and more recent atrocities in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and Sudan.
"In light of the culturally diverse population in Illinois and our
increasingly global society, we must ensure that the tragedy of the
Holocaust is not painted with an isolated brush," stated the bill's
chief sponsor, Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago). "In order to fully
comprehend the inhumanity of genocide, students need to be able to
understand the indifference that has allowed it to repeatedly occur
around the world through history and up to today."
The law states that the State Board of Education may make available
to Illinois schools instructional materials for the development of
this unit of instruction. Each local school district will set the
specifics of the instruction for each grade level in its schools.
"By studying these tragic lessons from history, we can
help our children understand the importance of freedom," said
Sen. Collins. "When they recognize that crimes of genocide continue
in some corners of the world, even in the 21st century, it will raise
their awareness and help them understand what can happen when you
judge people by their race, their homeland or their beliefs."
"We applaud Governor Blagojevich for breaking new ground by signing
into law this important educational initiative, a measure which comes
fifteen years after the landmark Illinois Holocaust Education Mandate
was first enacted," said Richard S. Hirschhaut, Project and Executive
Director of the new Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center.
"The new law affirms the continuing relevance of applying the universal
lessons of the Holocaust to the tragedies of genocide in our world
today. We look forward to bringing these important lessons to future
generations through the facilities of the new Illinois Holocaust
Museum and Education Center."
In June, the governor signed Senate Bill 23, making Illinois the
first state in the nation to cut all state financial ties with the
oppressive and genocidal Sudanese government. The bill, sponsored by
Sen. Jacqueline Collins (D-Chicago) and Rep Lovana Jones (D-Chicago),
prohibits Illinois from investing in foreign government bonds of Sudan,
investing in companies doing business in or with Sudan, and investing
the State pension in companies doing business in or with Sudan.
HB 312 goes into effect immediately.