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GENOCIDE EDUCATION ACT PASSES CALIF. SENATE COMMITTEE
http://asbarez.com/124234/genocide-education-act-passes-calif-senate-committee/
Wednesday, June 18th, 2014
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian speaks at the California State Assembly
Last genocide survivor passes as Genocide Education is brought to
forefront of California curricula
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee
unanimously passed AB 1915, The Armenian Genocide Education Act,
with a vote of 7-0. The human rights education measure authored by
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D - Sherman Oaks), will require 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. It will
also encourage the incorporation of an oral history component into
the teaching of human rights, and genocides, including the Holocaust,
Armenian, Cambodian, Darfur, and Rwandan genocides.
The introduction of this measure comes at a defining point, in not only
working towards a more comprehensive curriculum about the Armenian
Genocide, but also in having the international community recognize
an atrocity that has for too long been overlooked.
With the centennial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide quickly approaching,
a very frail few survivors remain to tell their stories from the
horrors they experienced during this dark chapter in world history.
The passage of AB 1915 out of this committee follows the passing of
Nellie Nazarian, the last Armenian Genocide survivor from Merrimack
Valley, Massachusetts, reminding us that increased education on the
subject is much needed before there are no survivors left. Nellie
escaped the massacre in her native village of Chimisgazag by taking
refuge in the mountains with her family before immigrating to America
in the early 1920's. "It is important to remember the stories of those
who experienced violations to human rights. I hope that the passage
of this legislation brings some closure for the remaining survivors
of all genocides. To educate our students on the Armenian Genocide,
as well as other atrocities that have taken place, will ensure that
the innocent did not die in vain. This bill is for the survivors and
those who perished." said Assemblymember Nazarian.
Nellies story joins the thousands which have been thoroughly detailed
in documentaries and memoirs describing the suffering experienced by
survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Oral Histories will be a vital
tool for educators to utilize in strengthening genocide curricula and
further raise consciousness of the Armenian Genocide in California's
educational system.
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.
AB 1915 will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Committee,
then head to the Senate floor for vote.
http://asbarez.com/124234/genocide-education-act-passes-calif-senate-committee/
Wednesday, June 18th, 2014
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian speaks at the California State Assembly
Last genocide survivor passes as Genocide Education is brought to
forefront of California curricula
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee
unanimously passed AB 1915, The Armenian Genocide Education Act,
with a vote of 7-0. The human rights education measure authored by
Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D - Sherman Oaks), will require 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. It will
also encourage the incorporation of an oral history component into
the teaching of human rights, and genocides, including the Holocaust,
Armenian, Cambodian, Darfur, and Rwandan genocides.
The introduction of this measure comes at a defining point, in not only
working towards a more comprehensive curriculum about the Armenian
Genocide, but also in having the international community recognize
an atrocity that has for too long been overlooked.
With the centennial of the 1915 Armenian Genocide quickly approaching,
a very frail few survivors remain to tell their stories from the
horrors they experienced during this dark chapter in world history.
The passage of AB 1915 out of this committee follows the passing of
Nellie Nazarian, the last Armenian Genocide survivor from Merrimack
Valley, Massachusetts, reminding us that increased education on the
subject is much needed before there are no survivors left. Nellie
escaped the massacre in her native village of Chimisgazag by taking
refuge in the mountains with her family before immigrating to America
in the early 1920's. "It is important to remember the stories of those
who experienced violations to human rights. I hope that the passage
of this legislation brings some closure for the remaining survivors
of all genocides. To educate our students on the Armenian Genocide,
as well as other atrocities that have taken place, will ensure that
the innocent did not die in vain. This bill is for the survivors and
those who perished." said Assemblymember Nazarian.
Nellies story joins the thousands which have been thoroughly detailed
in documentaries and memoirs describing the suffering experienced by
survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Oral Histories will be a vital
tool for educators to utilize in strengthening genocide curricula and
further raise consciousness of the Armenian Genocide in California's
educational system.
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.
AB 1915 will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Committee,
then head to the Senate floor for vote.