NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONTACTS

Ms. Jo Ann Larson
Associate - Social Studies Education at Curriculum and Instructional Support, New York State Education Department
Address: 89 Washington Avenue, Room 320 EB
Albany, NY 12234
Work Phone: 518-474-5922
Fax: 518-473-4884
Email: jlarson@mail.nysed.gov
Website: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/ssnews.html

Mr. Larwrence Paska
Associate in Social Studies Education at Curriculum, Instruction and Instructional Technology, New York Education Department
Address: 89 Washington Avenue, Room 320 EB
Albany, NY 12234
Work Phone: 518-474-5922
Fax: 518-473-4884
Email: lpaska@mail.nysed.gov
Website: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/social.html

NEW YORK LEGISLATION

Bill Number: S7765
Year: 1994
Title: An Act To Amend The Education Law, In Relation To Instruction On Subjects Of Human Rights Violations, Genocide, Slavery, And The Holocaust

Legislation:
The state legislatures deputy minority leader put forth an act to amend the education law by requiring the prescription of courses on human rights issues, particularly genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust. On April 20, 1994 the State senate passed the amendment and Governor Cuomo signed the legislation on July I0, 1994. The legislation took immediate effect and reads as follows: Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds, recognizes and affirms the importance to pupils of learning to appreciate the sanctity of life and the dignity of the individual. Pupils must develop a respect for each person as a unique individual, and understand the importance of a universal concern for ethics and human rights. Therefore, the legislature recognizes the importance of teaching our youth ethical and moral behavior specifically relating to human rights violations, genocide issues, and slavery, as well as the Holocaust. S 2. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 801 of the education law, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 481 of the laws of 1949, are amended to read as follows: "1. In order to promote a spirit of patriotic and civic service and obligation and to foster in the children of the state moral and intellectual qualities which are essential in preparing to meet the obligation of citizenship in pence or in war, the regents of the University of the State of New York shall prescribe courses of instruction in patriotism (and) citizenship and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust, to be maintained and followed in all the schools of the state. The board of education and trustees of 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. Similar courses of instruction shall be prescribed and maintained in private schools in the state, and all pupils in such schools over the age of eight years of age shall attend upon such courses. If such courses are not so established and maintained in a private school, attendance upon instruction in such schools shall not be deemed as substantially equivalent to instruction given in the public schools of the city or district in which such pupils reside. 3. The regents shall determine the subjects to be included in such courses of instruction on patriotism (and ) citizenship and human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery and the Holocaust and in the history, meaning, significance and effect of the provisions of the constitution of the United States , the amendments thereto, the declaration of independence, the constitution of the state of New York and the amendments thereto, 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 other matters as are required for carrying into effect the objects and purposes of this section. The commissioner ( of education) shall be responsible for the enforcement of such section and shall cause to be inspected and supervises the instruction given on 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 a city to be with-held for failure to 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 non-compliance with the rules of the regents adopted herein..."

Contact Name: Jo Ann Larson
Address: New York State Education Department 89 Washington Avenue
City/State/Zip: Albany, NY 12234
Phone: 518-474-5922
Fax: 518-473-4884
E-mail: jlarson@mail.nysed.gov

NEW YORK ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Standard Type: History/Social Studies
Date Implemented: 1996
History/Social Studies: The Holocaust is not addressed explicitly in New York's Learning Standardss for Social Studies.
Web Site: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/socst/pub/sslearn.pdf

Standard Type: English/Language Arts
Date Implemented: 1996
English/Language Arts: The Holocaust is not explicitly addressed in New York’s Learning Standards for English Language Arts.
Web Site: http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/ela/elals.html

NEW YORK HOLOCAUST RESOURCES

For Holocaust-related resources in NEW YORK, click on the following link:
http://www.ahoinfo.org/membersdirectory/

For other Holocaust resources in NEW YORK, either click on the following sites or contact the organization at the e-mail address provided.

http://www/hiddenchild.org