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AB-1537 Education: curriculum.(2003-2004)

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Assembly Bill No. 1537
CHAPTER 400

An act to amend Section 51221.3 of the Education Code, relating to curriculum.

[ Filed with Secretary of State  September 17, 2003. Approved by Governor  September 16, 2003. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1537, Wyland. Education: curriculum.
Under existing law, the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, is required to include instruction in the social sciences, as prescribed.
Existing law requires that instruction to contain instruction on World War II and the American role in that war. Existing law expresses the Legislature’s encouragement that the instruction include a component drawn from personal testimony of American soldiers who were involved in World War II and those men and women who contributed to the war effort on the homefront. Existing law specifies that the instruction be carried out in a manner that does not result in any new duties or programs imposed on school districts.
This bill would, instead, authorize the inclusion of instruction on World War II and the American role in that war, and would make conforming changes. The bill would make a finding and declaration that the current state-adopted academic content standards already include instruction on the Korean and Vietnam Wars in the appropriate grade level consistent with those standards, and would encourage that the instruction include personal testimony of those involved in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 51221.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51221.3.
 (a) Instruction in the area of social sciences, as required pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 51220, may include instruction on World War II and the American role in that war. The Legislature encourages that this instruction include, but not be limited to, a component drawn from personal testimony, especially in the form of oral or video history, if available, of American soldiers who were involved in World War II and those men and women who contributed to the war effort on the homefront. The oral histories used as part of the instruction regarding World War II shall exemplify the personal sacrifice and courage of the wide range of ordinary citizens who were called upon to participate. The oral histories shall contain the views and comments of their subjects regarding the reasons for American participation in the war and the actions taken to end the war in the Pacific. These oral histories shall also solicit comments from their subjects regarding the aftermath of the war in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
(b) The Legislature finds and declares that the current state-adopted academic content standards already include instruction on the Korean War and the Vietnam War in the appropriate grade level consistent with those standards. The Legislature encourages that this instruction include a component drawn from personal testimony, especially in the form of oral or video history, if available, of American soldiers who were involved in those wars.