Support California SB1540

CALIFORNIA SANGAT: YOUR HELP AND VOICE IS NEEDED URGENTLY

Last week community members took action to push along the important bill that is working towards including Sikh Americans in the curriculum framework which successfully led to Assemblymembers Gatto and Perez supporting the cause.  

The last step is here. Community members need to mail letters of support to Governor Jerry Brown this week. Urge Governor Brown to pass this bill via the letter template included here.

 Why is it important to Sikh Americans?

With recent tragedies, as well as problems that the Sikh American community has been facing for decades, as a community we need to ensure that Sikh American history and voices are included to be taught to the youth of tomorrow. Lack of education and awareness about who Sikh Americans are is a large factor in the discrimination, hate and violence that our community has seen. 

The current History-Social Science Curriculum Framework does not include the Sikh Americans.  This means publishers are not required to include Sikhs in K-12 history and social science textbooks, and teachers are not required to teach about Sikh culture, identity and faith.

The draft 2010 Framework, approved by the Curriculum Commission for Public Review, includes the following Sikh items and correct basic theology:
- The Boy with Long Hair, A children’s story authored by Pushpinder Kaur
- Historical information on Bhagat Singh Thind, Congressman Dalip S. Saund, and more
- Facts on Guru Nanak as a Reformer
- Option for Sikhism in World Religions elective