CALIFORNIA SANGAT: YOUR HELP AND VOICE IS NEEDED URGENTLY Call Assembly Member Mike Gatto and Assembly Member John Perez to offer your support for SB1540 (Hancock), for revised curriculum framework in History and Social Science. Take Action Now! The Revised Curriculum Framework Bill was introduced in the California State Senate by Senator Hancock, and co-authored by Senators De Leon and Wyland, and Assembly Members Alego, Davis, Eng, Portantino, and Yamada. This legislation aims at updating the history and social science curriculum in the State of California, it will allow completion of K-12 History Social-Science Curriculum Framework (H/SS-CF). This is important to Sikh Americans because it will give the opportunity to create awareness and education around Sikhism. ACTION NEEDED NOW—ONLY 48 HOURS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Why is it important to Sikh Americans? With recent tragedies, as well as issues that the Sikh American community has been facing for decades, we need to ensure that Sikh American history and voices are included to be taught to the youth of tomorrow. Lack of education and awareness about who Sikh Americans are is a large factor in the discrimination, hate and violence that our community has seen. The current History-Social Science Curriculum Framework does not include Sikh Americans. This means publishers are not required to include Sikhs in K-12 history and social science textbooks, and teachers are not required to teach about Sikh culture, identity and faith. The draft 2010 Framework, approved by the Curriculum Commission for Public Review, includes the following Sikh items and basic theology: – The Boy with Long Hair, A children’s story authored by Pushpinder Kaur – Historical information on Bhagat Singh Thind, Congressman Dalip S. Saund, and more – Facts on Guru Nanak as a Reformer – Option for Sikhism in World Religions elective This draft cannot be adopted by the State Board of Education without legislative action. To email Assembly Member Gatto and Assembly Member Perez with this message, please click here. What is the Bill About? This bill is simply geared at ensuring that the educational curriculum in History and Social Sciences that is currently being taught in all California schools be updated. The content has not been revisited and updated since 1998, which means all students in California are being denied a fair education with current information. Where is it? The bill has so far been unopposed, but is now in the Suspense File of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and needs to be pulled out and passed to the Assembly Floor. ACTION NEEDED NOW—ONLY 48 HOURS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. TAKE ACTION: Contact the following within the next 48 HOURS: Mike Gatto, Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee Capital Office: Tel: (916) 319-2043 Fax: (916) 319-2143 District Office: Tel: (818) 558-3043 Fax: (818) 558-3042 John Perez, Speaker of the Assembly Capitol Office: Tel: (916) 319-2046 Fax: (916) 319-2146 District Office: Tel: (213) 620-4646 Fax: (213) 620-6319 Use the following script: My name is _________ AND PHONE # IS _____________________. Please support SB1540 (Hancock) and ensure that it gets out from the SUSPENSE FILE of the Assembly Appropriations Committee. It is essential to allow COMPLETION of REVISION of the History-Social Science Framework. It will create awareness about Sikh Americans, the need for which has been emphasized by ACR181(Logue, 2010) and ACR97(Perea, 2012). As you might know observant Sikhs are distinguished by dastaars (Sikh turbans) and other articles of faith and are regrettably subjected to hate crimes, racial profiling, discrimination, and denial of public accommodation because of their perceived race, ethnicity, religion, and national origin. Last week’s killing of six peaceful Sikhs, inside their place of worship is a horrific tragedy that underscores the urgent need to educate the public about Sikhs. Additionally, the Mesa, Arizona killing of Balbir Singh Sodhi on 9/15/2001, the beating of a Sikh American cab driver in West Sacramento in Nov. 2010 and the Elk-Grove, California shooting of two elderly Sikhs provide additional context for our request. Thus, we encourage you to pass SB1540 (Hancock). All these emphasize the urgency of passing of at the earliest. To email Assembly Member Gatto and Assembly Member Perez with this message, please click here. To print and fax, please download the statement here. Special thanks to Dr.Onkar Bindra for spearheading this cause & Amar Shergill and the West Sacramento Gurdwara Sahib for their leadership.
