What's happening
This bill requires New York schools to include the Armenian Genocide in instruction on genocide, human rights, and prohibits denial of the Holocaust and Armenian Genocide.
Why it matters
Addresses historical denialism. by prohibiting New York schools from approving any curriculum that denies the occurrence of the Holocaust or the Armenian Genocide, directly countering misinformation and revisionist narratives.
Expands definitions in education law. to explicitly define "Armenian Genocide," "genocide," and "Holocaust," providing legal clarity and ensuring consistency in how these terms are taught across the state.
Mandates comprehensive human rights education. by requiring instruction on the Armenian Genocide alongside other atrocities, aiming to foster greater understanding of the consequences of hatred, intolerance, and state-sponsored violence.
Empowers enforcement. by giving the education commissioner authority to withhold funding from districts not in compliance, ensuring that these sensitive topics are not omitted due to local resistance or oversight.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Armenian Genocide in Schools
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4411
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 14, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- 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 adding the Armenian Genocide to the list of courses covered in instruction of patriotism, citizenship and human rights issues
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 1 and 3 of section 801 of the education law, as amended by chapter 574 of the laws of 1997, are amended and a new subdivision 6 is added 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 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 (including the Armenian Genocide), slavery (including the freedom trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, and the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850, 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 (including the Armenian Genocide), slavery (including the freedom trail and underground railroad), the Holocaust, and the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 to 1850, and in the history, meaning, signif-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06810-01-7
S. 4411 2
icance 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 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 withheld 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.
6. The regents shall not approve any course that purports to deny the occurrence of the Holocaust and Armenian Genocide as defined in section two of this title.
§ 2. Section 2 of the education law is amended by adding three new subdivisions 25, 26 and 27 to read as follows:
25. Armenian Genocide. The term "Armenian Genocide" means the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately one million five hundred thousand Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish Empire and its collaborators.
26. Genocide. The term "genocide" means any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, such as: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about its destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; or forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
27. Holocaust. The term "Holocaust" means the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of approximately six million Jewish people and five million other individuals by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
§ 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to adding the Armenian Genocide to the list of courses covered in instruction of patriotism, citizenship and human rights issues
Purpose
This bill emphasizes education on the Armenian Genocide in New York's public school system.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 subdivision 1 is amended to direct educators to consider with particular attention the study of the inhumanity of genocide, including the Armenian Genocide.
Section 1 subdivision 3 requires the regents to determine the subjects to be .included in courses of instruction in patriotism, citizenship, and human rights, with particular attention to the inhumanity of genocide, including the Armenian Genocide.
Section 1 subdivision 6 prohibits the regents from approving any course purporting to deny the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide.
Section 2 subdivision 25 defines "Armenian Genocide."
Section 2 subdivision 26 defines "Genocide."
Section 2 subdivision 27 defines "Holocaust."
Section 3 provides an effective date of July 1, 2018.
Justification
This bill seeks to educate New York's school children on the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. Teaching the subject of genocide is an essential aspect of a well-rounded education of history, human rights, and citizenship. This is because study of human rights abuses and genocide reaffirms principles of freedom for all nations and people, and serves to prevent the occurrence of further genocide in the future. As such, genocide education is a strong deterrent to indifference, and the perpetuation of crimes against humanity and human suffering in general.
Therefore, it is crucial that no instance of genocide be omitted from New York's curriculum for purely political reasons. In order serve the purposes of providing a truly well-rounded education to New York school children, it is necessary that The Regents of the University of the State of New York prescribe courses of instruction in human rights issues, of which the Armenian Genocide should be included.
Additionally, it is equally important that the regents prohibit those courses which would deny the existence of genocide in the past, such as Holocaust denial or the denial of Armenian human rights abuses.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Budget implications
None noted.
Effective date
This act would take effect July 1, 2018.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.