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Rhode Island State House Passes Genocide Education Bill (Update)
Thu, Jun 9 2011
By:Armenian Weekly
PROVIDENCE, R.I - The Rhode Island State House Legislation has passed
the General Assembly instructing the Department of Education to help
local schools teach students about genocide as a critical component of
civic education.
The Rhode Island State House
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28,
Cranston, Warwick) and Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9,
Providence), directs the state Department of Education to post on its
website materials to help schools teach students about genocides
including the Holocaust and those in Armenia, Cambodia, Iraq, Rwanda
and Darfur.
`The Rhode Island Assembly's adoption of this genocide education
measure, and our local Genocide Education Project chapter's efforts,
are a testamant to this state's ongoing commitment to genocide
prevention,' said ANC RI Chairman George Mangalo. `Victories like this
put genocide education on a fast-track in Rhode Island and help build
momentum for a nationwide policy on genocide awareness and prevention.
Education is a key component to our continued efforts in securing
justice for the Armenian Genocide and the broader campaign to ensure
our children live in a world without genocide.'
In 2000, the General Assembly passed a law requiring the Department of
Education to develop curricular materials on genocide and human rights
issues and guidelines for teaching them. The new bill, which has been
forwarded to the governor, will require that the curricular materials
for middle and high schools be posted online so it can be easily
accessed by schools.
The sponsors said they recognize that schools are struggling for
funding and that teachers are also pressed for time, so making the
curriculum available online would increase the likelihood that the
subject would be taught in schools.
`Genocides and human rights violations carried out by governments are
ugly chapters of history, but students are future leaders and voters
and they need to learn about mistakes of the past to keep them from
being repeated,' said Representative Williams.
Said Senator Miller, `One of the purposes of public education is to
raise new generations of informed, responsible citizens who understand
government. It's critical that students learn that sometimes
governments have done the wrong thing, not only trampling on the
rights of minorities, but attempting to wipe out entire races or
cultures. Making curriculum on genocide available to Rhode Island
teachers online will make it much more likely that students will learn
about these subjects, which have had profound and lasting effects on
the world in which they live.'
The House bill (2011-H 5732 A) passed the Assembly yesterday and will
be forwarded to the governor. The Senate bill (2011-S 0290A) passed
the Assembly May 31 and has been transmitted to the governor.
Thu, Jun 9 2011
By:Armenian Weekly
PROVIDENCE, R.I - The Rhode Island State House Legislation has passed
the General Assembly instructing the Department of Education to help
local schools teach students about genocide as a critical component of
civic education.
The Rhode Island State House
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28,
Cranston, Warwick) and Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9,
Providence), directs the state Department of Education to post on its
website materials to help schools teach students about genocides
including the Holocaust and those in Armenia, Cambodia, Iraq, Rwanda
and Darfur.
`The Rhode Island Assembly's adoption of this genocide education
measure, and our local Genocide Education Project chapter's efforts,
are a testamant to this state's ongoing commitment to genocide
prevention,' said ANC RI Chairman George Mangalo. `Victories like this
put genocide education on a fast-track in Rhode Island and help build
momentum for a nationwide policy on genocide awareness and prevention.
Education is a key component to our continued efforts in securing
justice for the Armenian Genocide and the broader campaign to ensure
our children live in a world without genocide.'
In 2000, the General Assembly passed a law requiring the Department of
Education to develop curricular materials on genocide and human rights
issues and guidelines for teaching them. The new bill, which has been
forwarded to the governor, will require that the curricular materials
for middle and high schools be posted online so it can be easily
accessed by schools.
The sponsors said they recognize that schools are struggling for
funding and that teachers are also pressed for time, so making the
curriculum available online would increase the likelihood that the
subject would be taught in schools.
`Genocides and human rights violations carried out by governments are
ugly chapters of history, but students are future leaders and voters
and they need to learn about mistakes of the past to keep them from
being repeated,' said Representative Williams.
Said Senator Miller, `One of the purposes of public education is to
raise new generations of informed, responsible citizens who understand
government. It's critical that students learn that sometimes
governments have done the wrong thing, not only trampling on the
rights of minorities, but attempting to wipe out entire races or
cultures. Making curriculum on genocide available to Rhode Island
teachers online will make it much more likely that students will learn
about these subjects, which have had profound and lasting effects on
the world in which they live.'
The House bill (2011-H 5732 A) passed the Assembly yesterday and will
be forwarded to the governor. The Senate bill (2011-S 0290A) passed
the Assembly May 31 and has been transmitted to the governor.