BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2269
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 11, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Julia Brownley, Chair
AB 2269 (Swanson) - As Amended: March 20, 2012
SUBJECT : Pupil instruction: Labor History Month
SUMMARY : Substitutes the first week of April as Labor History
Week with the month of May as Labor History Month and encourages
school districts to commemorate that month with appropriate
educational exercises that make pupils aware of the role that
the labor movement has played in shaping California and the
United States (U.S.).
EXISTING LAW :
1)Deems the first week of April to be Labor History Week and
encourages school districts to commemorate that week with
appropriate educational exercises that make pupils aware of
the role that the labor movement has played in shaping
California and the U.S. (Education Code Section EC 51009)
2)Designates March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day and authorizes public
schools and educational institutions throughout the state to
include exercises, funded through existing resources,
commemorating and directing attention to the history of the
farm labor movement in the U.S. and particularly the role
therein of Cesar Chavez. Requires the State Board of
Education (SBE) to adopt a model curriculum guide to be
available for use by public schools for exercises related to
Cesar Chavez Day. (EC 37220.5)
3)Designates the second Wednesday in May of each year as the Day
of the Teacher, a day having special significance, and
encourages all public schools and educational institutions to
conduct exercises commemorating and directing attention to
teachers and the teaching profession. (EC 37222.10)
FISCAL EFFECT : This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS : Current law deems the first week of April to be Labor
History Week and encourages schools to commemorate this week
with appropriate educational exercises that make pupils aware of
AB 2269
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the role of the labor movement in shaping California and the
U.S. This bill instead deems the month of May to be Labor
History Month, thereby extending the timeframe when labor
history is to be commemorated in schools.
Rationale for the changes : The author points out that for many
school districts, the first week of April is Spring break and
April is also a busy time for schools and pupils as they prepare
for statewide assessment administrations. This makes it
difficult for schools to commemorate Labor History Week during
the current designated time. By extending the length of time,
this bill potentially gives school districts more opportunities
and flexibility to conduct educational activities that raise
awareness about the labor movement as schools see fit and at any
time during the month of May.
The Speaker's Commission on Labor Education was established on
November 19, 2001 by then Speaker Robert M. Hertzberg to address
issues of labor education in California's public school system.
The Commission works closely with the Legislature, the
California Department of Education (CDE), the California State
Library, and the labor movement to hold events, and disseminate
information and instructional materials appropriate to Labor
History Week.
Information on the Commission's Internet Web site provides
examples of ways in which labor history and concepts may be
built into the curriculum and they include the following:
Discussions of child labor and working conditions, and
examination of the labor movement, including its leaders,
collective bargaining, strikes and protests over labor
conditions.
Tracing of the evolution of work and labor, including
the demise of the slave trade and effects of immigration,
mining and manufacturing.
Discussion of the advances and setbacks of organized
labor.
Understanding the operations of the labor market,
including the circumstances surrounding the establishment
of principal American labor unions, procedures that unions
use to gain benefits for their members, the effects of
unionization, the minimum wage, and unemployment insurance.
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The author states, "Many teachers have indicated that the month
of May would be more conducive to such observances. This bill
would simply formalize that flexibility by establishing the
month of May as Labor History Month. School districts would
therefore have the flexibility to engage in labor history
activities during other times during the month of May that work
best for their own schedules."
Arguments in support : The State Building and Construction Trades
Council writes, "We believe it is critical for today's young
scholars to understand the courageous struggles behind these
achievements. As a member organization of the Speaker's
Commission on Labor Education, we appreciate efforts in ensuring
school districts teach and provide learning resources and
opportunities to students about the historical achievements of
the labor movement."
Previous legislation : AB 1900 (Nakano), Chapter 366, Statues of
2002 deems the first week of April as Labor History Week
throughout the public schools, and encourages school districts
to commemorate this week with appropriate educational exercises
that make pupils aware of the role the labor movement has played
in shaping California and the U.S. and expresses legislative
intent that California labor history, from the Spanish colonial
period to the present day, be considered in the next cycle in
which the history/social science curriculum framework and its
accompanying instructional materials are adopted.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Federation of Teachers
California Labor Federation
California Nurses Association
California Professional Firefighters
California School Employees Association
Northern California District Council of the International
Longshore and Warehouse Union
State Building and Construction Trades Council
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Opposition
None on file.
AB 2269
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Analysis Prepared by : Marisol Avi�a / ED. / (916) 319-2087