S1890-2013 Actions

• Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S1890-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1890

TITLE  OF  BILL:    An  act  to  amend the education law, in relation to
including the attacks on September 11, 2001 in courses of instruction in
patriotism and citizenship

PURPOSE: To ensure that current and future generations of New York State
school children are appropriately educated on the attacks  of  September
11th, 2001.

SUMMARY  OF  PROVISIONS:  Section  one  amends Education Law Section 801
adding the attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001 to the list of
courses for instruction  in  patriotism  and  citizenship  in  New  York
schools.

Section two sets the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:  On  September  11,  2001,  America  suffered a terrorist
attack on its soil resulting in the loss of over 3,000  American  lives.
The  resulting  devastation of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center
in downtown Manhattan, to the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and the  crash
of  United  Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania left an indelible mark on
American and world society and history.

The tragedy of the terrorist  attacks  of  September  11,  2001  is  not
currently  taught in all New York schools. The magnitude of the event on
Americans and New Yorkers demands that  it  should  be  a  part  of  our
schools'  core  curriculum  and  taught  at  an age appropriate level as
determined by State Education  Department  guidelines.  Such  guidelines
exist in current Social Studies Standards in the State Education Depart-
ment's  Global History and Geography Online Resource incorporate turning
point lessons, defined as a decisive moment or an event marking a unique
or important historical change of course that includes a lesson plan  on
September 11th.

This  legislation  gives  appropriate  weight  to the importance of this
turning point in history and ensures that current and future generations
of New York students will all be instructed on the events of that day by
requiring that all schools dedicate appropriate time  and  resources  to
teaching the events of that day.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: S.5883 (2011).

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.

S1890-2013 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         1890
 2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 9, 2013
 
 Introduced  by Sens. MARTINS, MAZIARZ -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
 

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to including the  attacks
 on  September  11,  2001  in  courses of instruction in patriotism and
 citizenship
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 and subdivision 3 of
 section  801 of the education law, as amended by chapter 574 of the laws
 of 1997, are amended to read as follows:

 In order to promote a spirit of patriotic and civic service and  obli
 gation and to foster in the children of the state moral and intellectual
 qualities  which  are  essential in preparing to meet the obligations of
 citizenship in peace or in war, the regents of  The  University  of  the
 State  of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in patriotism,
 citizenship, and human rights issues, with particular attention  to  the
 study  of  the  inhumanity  of  genocide, slavery (including the freedom
 trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, [and] the  mass  starva
 tion  in  Ireland  from  1845  to 1850, AND THE ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11,
 2001, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state. The
 boards of education and  trustees  of  the  several  cities  and  school
 districts  of  the  state  shall require instruction to be given in such
 courses, by the teachers employed in the  schools  therein.  All  pupils
 attending  such  schools, over the age of eight years, shall attend upon
 such instruction.
 3. The regents shall determine the subjects to  be  included  in  such
 courses  of  instruction  in  patriotism,  citizenship, and human rights
 issues, with particular attention to the  study  of  the  inhumanity  of
 genocide,  slavery  (including  the  freedom trail and underground rail
 road), the Holocaust, [and] the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845  to
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04585-01-3
 
       S. 1890                             2
 1850,  AND  THE ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001, and in the history, mean
 ing, significance and effect of the provisions of  the  constitution  of
 the  United States, the amendments thereto, the declaration of independ
 ence, the constitution of the state of New York and the amendments ther
 eto,  and  the  period  of  instruction  in  each  of the grades in such
 subjects. They shall adopt rules  providing  for  attendance  upon  such
 instruction and for such other matters as are required for carrying into
 effect  the objects and purposes of this section. The commissioner shall
 be responsible for the enforcement of such section and shall cause to be
 inspected and supervise the instruction to be given  in  such  subjects.
 The  commissioner  may, in his discretion, cause all or a portion of the
 public school money to be apportioned to a district or city to be  with
 held  for  failure of the school authorities of such district or city to
 provide instruction in such courses and to compel attendance  upon  such
 instruction,  as  herein  prescribed,  and for a non-compliance with the
 rules of the regents adopted as herein provided.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

*By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and Privacy Policy and verify you are over 13.

Discuss!