BILL NUMBER:  S6420

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the education law, in relation to courses 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 curriculum 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
American 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,
integrated, or infused into the curriculum at every level and into
every subject "as appropriate." For instance, it is important not to
limit the teachers of labor history to American history but recognize
that English teachers can incorporate worker literature, poems, plays,
etc. and can assign papers, essays, seminar topics and so on that deal
with workers and unions. Music teachers can use labor songs to teach
the American tradition of protest music and science teachers can
incorporate safety and health issues.

This curriculum is severely limited in the schools of New York and
this omission by the State Education Department needs to be corrected.
This legislation will do just that.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2001-02: S.1336/A.268 No action.
2003-04: S.1292/A.1459 No action.
2005-06: S.1681/A.937 No action.
2007-08: S.2753/A.6113 No action.

 FISCAL IMPLICATION :
None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
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.