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AB-72 Curriculum: social science.(2007-2008)

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Enrolled  September 07, 2007
Passed  IN  Senate  August 30, 2007
Passed  IN  Assembly  September 04, 2007
Amended  IN  Senate  June 21, 2007
Amended  IN  Senate  June 04, 2007
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 09, 2007

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2007–2008 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 72

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Dymally
 (Principal Coauthor(s): Senator Romero)
 (Coauthor(s): Assembly Member Lieu, Portantino)
 (Coauthor(s): Senator Padilla, Torlakson)

December 04, 2006

An act to amend Section 51221.4 of the Education Code, relating to curriculum.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 72, Dymally. Curriculum: social science.
Under existing law, the adopted course of study for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, is required to include instruction in social science. The required social science instruction is permitted to include instruction on World War II and the American role in that war. Statutory provisions encourage that instruction to 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.
Statutory provisions also encourage the required instruction in social science to include instruction on the Vietnam War, including the “Secret War” in Laos and the role of Southeast Asians in that war. Those provisions encourage that instruction to include a component drawn from personal testimony of Southeast Asians who were involved in the Vietnam War and those who contributed to the war effort on the homefront. School districts are required to implement the instruction in a manner that does not result in the imposition of new duties or programs.
This bill would encourage instruction in social science for grades 7 to 12, inclusive, to include instruction on World War II and the role of Filipinos in that war.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 51221.4 of the Education Code is amended to read:

51221.4.
 (a) The Legislature encourages instruction in the area of social science, as required pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 51220, to include instruction on the Vietnam War including the “Secret War” in Laos and the role of Southeast Asians in that war. The Legislature encourages this instruction to include, but not be limited to, a component drawn from personal testimony, especially in the form of oral or video histories of Southeast Asians who were involved in the Vietnam War and those men and women who contributed to the war effort on the homefront. The oral histories used as a part of the instruction regarding the role of Southeast Asians in the Vietnam War and the “Secret War” in Laos shall exemplify the personal sacrifice and courage of the wide range of ordinary citizens who were called upon to participate and provide intelligence for the United States. The oral histories shall contain the views and comments of their subjects regarding the reasons for their participation in the war. These oral histories shall also solicit comments from their subjects regarding the aftermath of the war and the immigration of Southeast Asians to the United States.
(b) (1) The Legislature encourages the instruction required pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 51220 to include instruction on World War II and the role of Filipinos in that war consisting of an accurate history of the contributions of the Filipino American veterans who fought courageously in the United States Army for freedom and democracy in World War II, under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur.
(2) The Legislature encourages the instruction described in paragraph (1) to include a component drawn from personal testimony, especially in the form of oral or video histories of Filipinos 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 a part of the instruction regarding the role of Filipinos in World War II are encouraged to do all of the following:
(A) Exemplify the personal sacrifice and courage of the wide range of ordinary citizens who were called upon to participate and to provide intelligence for the United States.
(B) Contain the views and comments of their subjects regarding the reasons for their participation in the war.
(C) Solicit comments from their subjects regarding the aftermath of the war and the immigration of Filipinos to the United States.
(c) This section shall be carried out in a manner that does not result in any new duties or programs being imposed on the school district. In that regard, the Legislature finds and declares that this section does not mandate costs to local agencies or school districts, and materials used to comply with this section shall be part of normal curriculum materials purchased by school districts in their normal course of business and purchasing cycles.