Legislature again delves into racism lessons in schools
By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press Writer
August 11, 2005, 4:54 PM EDT
ALBANY, N.Y. — A politically appointed state panel will examine
whether slavery and the “physical and psychological terrorism” against
Africans in the slave trade is adequately taught in schools and
textbooks.
The panel called the Amistad Commission was approved by the
Legislature and signed into law last week by Gov. George Pataki. It is
charged with recommending to the Legislature and governor changes in
curriculum and textbooks, which because of New York’s buying power
could influence texts used in other states, according to the National
Council for the Social Studies. The panel could also recommend
state-sponsored educational programs on slavery and racism, and
training for teachers.
The commission is named for the slave ship Amistad that was
commandeered by the slaves it carried. They eventually won their
freedom in U.S. Supreme Court.
Such lessons are critical for all students to understand American
history and the role of slaves and black Americans in it, supporters
say.
Other states have sought public input in recent years to include
international studies and “financial literacy” in schools, said Peggy
Altoff, president-elect of the national council and a social studies
facilitator in Colorado Springs.
She said the goal of the commission is laudable, but said educators on
the panel should be part of any panel recommending changes to make
sure they’ll work.
“There’s only so much time to teach the history of this country
… what’s going to go?” she said.
Letting officials who need no academic expertise make curriculum
recommendations may be a new wrinkle on government’s management of
classroom instruction.
“I haven’t heard of that,” said Susan Adler, a professor of teacher
education in social studies at the University of Missouri at Kansas
City who helped write standards for social studies education for the
national council.
“I kind of like having public input, but ultimately I think educators
need to be the decision makers about curriculum,” Adler said. “Public
input is good. Public decision making makes me nervous.”
New York’s law is the latest legislation aimed at requiring lessons
about ethnic groups.
Under state law, children must learn about the Irish famine, the
Holocaust, slavery and the Underground Railroad.
“There’s no question that it’s dabbling,” said Carl Hayden, the former
state schools chancellor who led the Board of Regents in developing
higher academic standards. “The single most difficult standard that
the Regents dealt with was the history standard, because it is so
potentially controversial.” He said there were extensive discussions
on how to teach slavery before the standard was set.
“It’s not to say (the commission) is a bad idea, but education should
be approached comprehensively,” said Hayden, an Elmira lawyer.
He noted schools are already “overwhelmed” with mandated lessons.
Assemblyman Clarence Norman Jr., a Brooklyn Democrat and co-sponsor of
the law, said he’s unsure why the qualifications for joining the
commission don’t include academic credentials, but said he has faith
that educators and those “well versed in this type of issue” will be
appointed.
“We feel there is, indeed, a void in our education curriculum in New
York state when it comes to the issue of slavery and the
de-humanization of Africans at that time” and of the racism against
black Americans since, he said. He said the state’s education policy
making board, the Board of Regents, hasn’t acted and needs to be
prodded by the Legislature.
He said the legislation should prompt more laws to revamp or create
lessons on other oppressed racial and ethnic groups. “Commonalities of
struggle,” he said, “create a common bond.”
Norman and the proposal’s prime sponsor, Democratic Assemblyman Keith
Wright of Manhattan, are black leaders in the Legislature.
“A great deal” on slavery is already required in schools and more
would be better, said department spokesman Jonathan Burman. He said he
expects the commission to rely on experts, but was disappointed the
law includes no funding.
“Scholarly interpretation of history should be left to professional
historians,” said Candace de Russy, a State University of New York
trustee and national lecturer and writer on academic issues. “This
bill opens the door to endless group advocacy-oriented
legislation. Inherent in it, Jews will decide how to teach the
Holocaust, the Irish the Great Famine, Armenians the Turkish genocide,
Indians the French and Indian War, and so on. Gays will decide gay
history, women women’s history and so on.”
State Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long, meanwhile, said “To
talk in terms of terrorism is certainly out of line.”
The commission will include 19 unpaid members: Eight appointed by the
governor, the rest by the state secretary of state, who is appointed
by the governor; the state education commissioner and majority leaders
of the Legislature.
Panelists need not be academics. They will be “chosen with due regard
to broad geographic representation and ethnic diversity, who have an
interest in the history of the African slave trade and slavery in
America and contributions of African-Americans in our society,”
according to the law’s text.
The commission will be authorized to call for data from any state,
municipal department or school and those offices must cooperate, the
law stated.
The panel will focus on African and African American experiences under
“the concerted effort of physical and psychological terrorism that
deprived groups of people of African descent the opportunity to
preserve many of their social, religious, political and other customs.
“And in spite of these events, there are endless examples of the
triumphs of African-Americans and their significant contributions to
the development of this country,” the law states.