Superintendent’s UpdateSuperintendent’s UpdateSuperintendent’s UpdateSuperintendent’s UpdateDr. Vivian EkchianDr. Vivian EkchianDr. Vivian EkchianDr. Vivian Ekchian

Commemorating Genocide Remembrance and Reaffirming a Better WorldCommemorating Genocide Remembrance and Reaffirming a Better WorldCommemorating Genocide Remembrance and Reaffirming a Better WorldCommemorating Genocide Remembrance and Reaffirming a Better World

Date: April 21, 2020

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Commitment to Genocide RemembranceCommitment to Genocide RemembranceCommitment to Genocide RemembranceCommitment to Genocide Remembrance

• Critical Connections for Our District‒ Message of Community‒ Importance of Education

• Glendale Unified’s History of Remembrance‒ Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and

Commemoration‒ Holocaust Remembrance

• Continued efforts‒ Professional development‒ Curriculum‒ Next steps

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Message of CommunityMessage of CommunityMessage of CommunityMessage of Community

• Genocide, like all crimes based on race and ethnicity, begins with hate

• Hate, when allowed to linger, can grow and lead to atrocities like genocide

• Glendale Unified is a diverse district comprised of many races and ethnicities, but is it also one community

• We must stand together in solidarity to condemn hatred and celebrate our collective cultures

• Our diversity is our strength

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Importance of EducationImportance of EducationImportance of EducationImportance of Education

• During the Armenian Genocide, intellectuals, educators, and thinkers were first to be executed to keep Armenians leaderless

• This makes Glendale Unified’s role in genocide remembrance immensely critical as an educational organization and center of the Armenian community

o Home to one of the largest Armenian communities in the world

o Preparing generations of leaders, many who now sit on leadership boards continuing this work

o Socioemotional care for families suffering from trauma that carries through for more than 100 years - the pain passed down still lingers

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April 24 April 24 April 24 April 24 ---- Armenian Genocide Armenian Genocide Armenian Genocide Armenian Genocide Remembrance DayRemembrance DayRemembrance DayRemembrance Day

• Since 2013-14, April 24 is a GUSD “student free” day to ensure students have the opportunity to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

• On December 12, 2019, the U.S. Congress formally designated the 1915 mass killings of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire as “genocide”

• On April 7, 2020, the Board of Education adopted Resolution No. 18 -Remembering the Armenian Genocide and Reaffirming a Better World.

• Message from Mr. Armen Sahakyan, Executive Director, ANCA-WR.

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Armenian Genocide CommemorationArmenian Genocide CommemorationArmenian Genocide CommemorationArmenian Genocide Commemoration

• Board Member Greg Krikorian organized the first Armenian Genocide Commemoration with our High School Armenian Clubs at Glendale High in 2001. This annual commemoration is in its 19th year. Due to social distancing directives, it was presented yesterday as a virtual event.

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Original Play Original Play Original Play Original Play ---- “Journey of Angels”“Journey of Angels”“Journey of Angels”“Journey of Angels”

• Selections from an original play with music titled “A

Journey of Angels” based on the book “My Mother’s

Voice” were presented last year.

• Play is inspired by a memoir by Kay Mouradian about

her mother’s survival of the Armenian Genocide.

• Brent Beerman, a performing arts teacher at CVHS,

wrote play and directed selections.

• Original music and lyrics written by Kathi Chaplar.

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April 21 April 21 April 21 April 21 ---- Holocaust Day of RemembranceHolocaust Day of RemembranceHolocaust Day of RemembranceHolocaust Day of Remembrance

• The Holocaust was a state-sponsored, systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jews by Nazi Germany between 1933- and 1945. Six million were murdered.

• Pursuant to an Act of Congress, the United States Holocaust Memorial Council designates the Day of Remembrance known as Yom HaShoah on April 21, 2020.

• On March 10, 2020, the Board of Education adopted Resolution No. 16 -proclaiming April 21 as Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020.

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Holocaust Survivors Presentations to High Holocaust Survivors Presentations to High Holocaust Survivors Presentations to High Holocaust Survivors Presentations to High Schools Schools Schools Schools

• In February 2020 - Students from Hoover High, Crescenta Valley High, and Daily High Schools heard first-hand testimony from Holocaust survivors.

• Program has been presented to high school students for past three years by Mr. David Meyerhof, Holocaust Speaker Coordinator.

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Professional DevelopmentProfessional DevelopmentProfessional DevelopmentProfessional Development

• The GUSD Teaching & Learning Department and History-Social Science Teachers collaborate with organizations to improve and supplement standards-based and framework aligned History-Social Science teaching and learning of the Armenian Genocide and Holocaust.

• Collaboration organizations include the GUSD Genocide Education Committee, The Genocide Education Project, Facing History and Ourselves, The Armenian National Committee of America-Western Region, the Los Angeles County Office of Education, USC Shoah Foundation, Dr. Kay Mouradian, and Mr. David Meyerhof.

• GUSD believes it is important to make every effort to teach children tolerance so that such crimes are not repeated against any group.

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HistoryHistoryHistoryHistory----Social Science CurriculumSocial Science CurriculumSocial Science CurriculumSocial Science Curriculum

History-Social Science Framework for California Public Schools

• History-Social Science Content Standards for California Public School adopted by the California State Board of Education in 1998, which still apply

• Framework adopted by the California State Board of Education in 2016:

o Chapter 15, Grade 10: Causes and Course of World War I pp. 343-344 specific to the Armenian Genocide

o Chapter 15, Grade 10: Causes and Consequences of World War II pp. 353-355 specific to the Holocaust and relation to Armenian Genocide

• All GUSD H-SS Teachers align their instruction student learning to the 2016 Framework

• Armenian National Committee of America – Western Region has provided the district with virtual learning tools and lesson plans for all grade levels on remembrance and commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. For additional resources and recommendations visit: ancawr.org/resources/for-educators-an-students/

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Next StepsNext StepsNext StepsNext Steps

• Armenian Genocide Education with The Genocide Education Project will be scheduled again in 2020-2021.

• Holocaust Survivor Presentations for February 2021 coordinated by Mr. David Meyerhof will be considered, though the presenters are aging out of their ability and availability to present.

• GUSD H-SS will adopt new Instructional Materials in 2021 that will better reflect 2016 Framework and current research and legislation.

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In the spirit of remembrance, the Glendale Unified School District reaffirms its commitment to the teaching of tolerance, understanding, the peaceful resolution of

problems, and the strength of diversity in our schools and in our community so that these qualities may help instill in today’s young generation the optimism and hope for a

better world and strengthen our great nation.

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