BILL NUMBER:A9530
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the education law, in relation to cours-
es of instruction in labor studies
PURPOSE: This bill would require elementary and secondary schools to
teach courses on the role of labor unions in American society.
JUSTIFICATION: Recently, the State of Illinois adopted into its curric-
ulum the teaching of labor history in all of its schools. This had been
established by a concerted effort of unions led by the Illinois State
AFL-CIO. In New York State this venture is being fully supported by the
New York State United Auto Workers, Region 9.
Fundamentally, the glorious history of labor is the story of the Ameri-
can people and the great forces which have swept the American people
into action have been the very forces that have also molded labor. For
labor has never lived in isolation or progressed without allies. Always
it has been in the mainstream of American life, always at the crux of
American history. Organized labor has been integral in shaping the
history of New York State through its interaction in the political and
economic systems.
It is very important that at all grades, students learn of the various
aspects of labor studies. These studies should be incorporated, inte-
grated, or infused into the curriculum at every level and into every
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9530
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 12, 2010
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SCHROEDER -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to courses of instruction
in labor studies
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 809-b
to read as follows:
S 809-B. INSTRUCTION IN LABOR STUDIES. THE OFFICER, BOARD, OR COMMIS-
SION AUTHORIZED OR REQUIRED TO PRESCRIBE INSTRUCTIONAL OUTCOMES FOR
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS SHALL CAUSE SUCH INSTRUCTIONAL
OUTCOMES TO INCLUDE IN ALL GRADES AND SUBJECTS, AS APPROPRIATE, THE
HISTORY, STRUCTURE, ACTIVITIES, AND ROLE OF ORGANIZED LABOR IN THE AMER-
ICAN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEMS.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the first of September in the
second year next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a
law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04092-01-9
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