BILL ANALYSIS
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Date of Hearing: August 26, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Julia Brownley, Chair
ACR 89 (Galgiani and Portantino) - As Introduced: August 17,
2009
SUBJECT : Italian American Heritage Month
SUMMARY : Designates the month of October 2009 and every October
thereafter as Italian American Heritage Month and encourages
public schools to highlight and include Italian American
achievements and contributions to the culture of California and
to take steps to promote the inclusion of Italian American
history in elementary and secondary social science textbooks
during the revision process for those textbooks. Specifically,
this bill : Makes several findings and declarations regarding
Italian Americans and their contributions to California and
United States (U.S.) history.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Provides that the adopted course of study in grades one
through 12 for instruction in social sciences shall include
the early history of California and a study of the role and
contributions of both men and women, black Americans, American
Indians, Mexicans, Asians, Pacific Island people, and other
ethnic groups to the economic, political, and social
development of California and the U.S., with particular
emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in
contemporary society.
2)Requires the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials
Commission to recommend curriculum frameworks to the State
Board of Education (SBE) and develop criteria for evaluating
instructional materials submitted for adoption so that the
materials adopted adequately cover the subjects in the
indicated grade levels.
3)Prohibits the State Board of Education from adopting
instructional materials or conduct other procedures associated
with the adoption of textbooks until the 2013-2014 school year
and specifies that local education agencies are not required
to purchase instructional materials through the 2012-13 fiscal
year.
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FISCAL EFFECT : This resolution is non-fiscal.
COMMENTS : This resolution designates the month of October 2009
and every October thereafter, as Italian American Heritage Month
and it encourages public schools to highlight and include the
contributions and achievements of Italian Americans to the
culture of California and to take steps promote the inclusion of
Italian-American history in the elementary and secondary social
science textbooks during the revision process for those
textbooks.
The History-Social Science Content Standards require inclusion
of ethnic groups, including Italians and Italian Americans, in
the discussion of historical events throughout all grade levels.
For example, the 11th grade standards on the topic of America's
participation in World War II state:
"Discuss the constitutional issues and impact of
events on the U.S. home front, including the
internment of Japanese Americans (e.g., Fred Korematsu
v. United States of America) and the restrictions on
German and Italian resident aliens; the response of
the administration to Hitler's atrocities against Jews
and other groups; the roles of women in military
production; and the roles and growing political demand
of African Americans."
Current law provides a certain level of flexibility in the
social science curriculum by allowing instruction related to
"other ethnic groups" - not specifically mentioned in statute, -
to be included in the social science curriculum.
The resolution highlights examples of Italian American
achievements and contributions such as that of Bay Area native
Amedeo Pietro "A.P." Giannini, who established the first branch
banking system in the U.S. known as Bank of America, and of
Andrea Sbarboro who is credited as one of the major founders of
the California wine industry.
Suggested amendments : The resolution encourages schools to
promote the inclusion of Italian American history in social
studies textbooks. Similar resolutions introduced in past years
have encouraged the inclusion of the role and contributions of
Italian Americans to the culture and history of California and
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the U.S. Rather than encourage the inclusion of the history of
one particular ethnic group in social studies textbooks, it
appears that it would be more appropriate for the resolution to
encourage, like in prior resolutions, the inclusion of the role
and contributions of Italian Americans to the culture and
history of California and the U.S. In this manner, the
resolution would be consistent with the History-Social Science
content standards as they call for the inclusion of ethnic
groups in the discussion of historical events throughout all
grade levels. Staff recommends the resolution be amended on
page 4, line 4 to delete "Italian American history" and insert
"the role and contributions of Italian Americans to the culture
and history of California and the United States."
Staff further recommends a technical amendment to correct a
reference to the year 1959 as the year when Marco Fontana
arrived in the US. According to authors' staff, the date of
Fontana's arrival into the U.S. is 1859, and not 1959. Staff
recommends the bill be amended on page 2, line 17, to delete
"1959" and insert "1859."
Prior legislation : ACR 145 (Portantino), Resolution Chapter
125, Statutes of 2008, designates the month of October as
Italian American Heritage Month and encourages public schools to
highlight Italian American achievements and contributions to the
culture of California and to take steps to promote the inclusion
of the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans to
U.S. and California history in elementary and secondary
textbooks during the revision process for those textbooks.
AB 1863 (Portantino) of 2008 expresses the encouragement of the
Legislature for schools to include the role and contribution of
Italian Americans to the economic, political, and social
development of California and the United States in the
instruction of social sciences, and encourages the SBE to
include the role and contribution of Italian Americans to the
economic, political, and social development of California and
the U.S. in the social sciences curriculum frameworks at the
next revision of those frameworks. AB 1863 was vetoed by
Governor Schwarzenegger with the following veto message:
"While I respect the author's intent to recognize the role of
Italian Americans in California and United State history, I have
consistently vetoed legislation that has attempted to include
specific details or events into areas of instruction. The State
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Board of Education adopted content standards are developed by a
diverse group of experts and are intentionally broad in order to
allow coverage of various events, developments, and issues. I
continue to believe that the State should establish rigorous
academic standards and frameworks, but refrain from being overly
prescriptive in specific school curriculum."
AB 390 (Canciamilla) of 2005 provides that the SBE, at the next
revision of curriculum frameworks in social sciences shall
include the role and contribution of Italian Americans to the
economic, political, and social development of California and
the United States. AB 390 was sent to the Governor's desk in
2006 but was returned to the Assembly prior to action taken by
the Governor and was held on the Assembly Floor.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi?a / ED. / (916) 319-2087