Bill Text: CA ACR58 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Public schools: history education.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 41-18-1)

Status: (Passed) 2017-07-17 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 104, Statutes of 2017. [ACR58 Detail]

Download: California-2017-ACR58-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Concurrent Resolution

No. 58

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Introduced by Assembly Member Chu

April 17, 2017

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Relative to education regarding the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II in public schools.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

ACR 58, as introduced, Chu. Public schools: history education.

This measure would urge the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis in their curricula on the bravery, sacrifice, and heroism of the United States and allied forces that engaged in military activity in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II.

Digest Key

Fiscal Committee: YES  

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Bill Text

WHEREAS, The State Department of Education is charged with ensuring that comprehensive, unbiased, and accurate information is available and taught to all California pupils; and

WHEREAS, It is important for public school curricula to be inclusive and representative of worldwide historical events to enhance students’ understanding and interpretations of the historical impact of events that take place outside of the United States; and

WHEREAS, World War II was an infamous international conflict that involved over 30 countries, caused over 70 million casualties, and marked unfathomable bravery and sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, Military activity in the Pacific and Asia during World War II is referred to as the Pacific War and accounted for 36 million casualties, one-half of the estimated total number of lives lost in World War II; and

WHEREAS, The China-Burma-India Theater (CBI Theater) of World War II, which included territories in east and south Asia, was active from 1942 to 1945, inclusive; and

WHEREAS, The United States government identified efforts to supply and support Chinese troops as crucial to mitigating threats from Japanese invasions; and

WHEREAS, Due to Japanese occupation of key territories in China, the only way to provide supplies to Chinese troops was through a dirt road in the mountains of Burma; and

WHEREAS, American, Chinese, Indian, and British forces in the CBI Theater orchestrated their military activities to open the supply route in Burma; and

WHEREAS, The forces had limited resources but persisted through immeasurable challenges, including a lack of supplies, inadequate manpower, disease, and attacks from enemy troops; and

WHEREAS, Through American leadership, the forces successfully reclaimed the supply route and built Ledo Road to assist Chinese forces in World War II; and

WHEREAS, The CBI Theater has not been widely researched or covered by literature and history books used in California public schools; and

WHEREAS, California is a diverse state and could be seen as the Pacific corridor to Asia; and

WHEREAS, It is important that California history books instruct pupils about significant efforts, battles, and events that took place in Asia during World War II; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature urges the State Board of Education, county offices of education, and local school governing bodies to increase emphasis in their curricula on the bravery, sacrifice, and heroism of the United States and allied forces that engaged in military activity in the China-Burma-India Theater; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education and administrators of county offices and school districts, and to the author for distribution.