Education Committee

JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT

SPONSORS OF BILL:

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

REASONS FOR BILL:

Many schools and school districts have expressed an interest in teaching students about genocide, but lack a curriculum for this purpose. This bill requires the State Department of Education to develop a genocide awareness curriculum to promote understanding of the meaning, history and consequences of genocide. This curriculum would be made available to any school district or school interested in offering education to its students on this topic, i.e., it would be available on a non-mandatory basis.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

No testimony was submitted

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

Avery W. Doninger, student at Lewis S. Mills High School, Burlington, CT; testified in favor of this bill. Ms. Doninger was shocked to realize she had no knowledge of the current conflict in Darfur until very recently, “How are we supposed to prevent future genocides from occurring if students don't even know about the genocides going on today? We are supposed to learn from past mistakes so that they aren't repeated.”

Deacon Arthur L. Miller, CT Coalition to Save Darfur, Director of the Office for Black Catholic Ministries; Deacon Miller spoke in favor of this bill, “It's an absolute necessity to provide the opportunity for the children of Connecticut to be given the chance to become global citizens with global perspectives and global concerns… the only vehicle that can stop any genocide is awareness and education.”

Mary Staudt, Middle School Teacher and parent of two children from Ridgefield, CT; Ms. Staudt spoke in favor of this bill, “Never in my 23 years in education have I experienced training that not only significantly improved my teaching but affected me as a person so dramatically.” Ms. Staudt spoke to the dramatic effect genocide education had on students at her school; from a decrease in bullying to greater involvement in the community.

Jason Wang, Communications Associate, CT Teach Against Genocide, Student at UCONN; He spoke in favor of this bill. “The lessons learned in Genocide and Human Behavior have been a lasting, positive influence in my life.”

Danielle Millard, student at UCONN working towards a Masters degree in Social Work; Ms. Millard spoke in favor of this bill.

Rev. Timothy Osiovich, Chair, CT Coalition to Save Darfur; Rev. Osiovich spoke in favor of this bill and encourages support of teacher training and curriculum development.

Steven Bagley, student at Lewis S. Mills High School, Burlington, CT; Mr. Bagley spoke in favor of this bill and would like to see genocide education made a permanent part of the curriculum with funding for teacher training.

Eve Nussbaum Soumerai, Holocaust Survivor; Ms. Soumerai spoke in favor of this bill and believes strongly in mandating genocide education.

Kaitlyn Krauss, Senior at Wesleyan University, leader of WESTAND, Wesleyan's anti-genocide student group; Ms. Krauss spoke in favor of this bill and believes that genocide education, “increases students' interest in education and motivates students to take action.”

Mark Waxenberg, Director of Government Relations for the Connecticut Education Association; supports the bill.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

No testimony was submitted