GLENDALE–Speaking to a capacity audience at the Armenian National Committee (ANC) Leadership Institute on May 11–Sara Cohen–Education Director of the Genocide Education Project–presented its mission to help prevent genocide by assisting educators–students–and educational organizations through education about genocide and other major human rights violations–with specific focus on the Armenian genocide.
The ANC Professional Network (PN) hosted the lecture in its ongoing effort to develop future generations of leaders to advance the interests of Armenian Americans by encouraging the emergence of an educated and politically active community.
The audience of young professionals–which included educators–learned of the Genocide Education Project’s development of a comprehensive teacher’s manual that includes one–two and 10-day lesson plans and how the organization trains teachers interested in educating their students about the Armenian genocide. Complete lesson plans and other teaching tools are available online at www.teachgenocide.org.
"Incorporating the Armenian Genocide into public school curricula will help establish more understanding among a diverse student body so that all future acts of intolerance can be avoided," commented Jeannine Topalian–President of the ANC-PN and a school psychologist in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
California Law mandates that the Armenian genocide be taught in the state’s public schools. However–due to the overwhelming number of lessons that teachers have to plan and prepare–the Armenian genocide is often omitted. The lesson plans in the teacher’s manual developed by the Genocide Education Project lift the burden placed on teachers and allow them to easily incorporate California’s mandated curriculum.