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Labor history education bill on its way to governor
10/27/2009 3:34:47 PM
A bill requiring that the history of organized labor and the collective bargaining process be incorporated into the state's model academic standards for social studies received final legislative approval today and is on its way to the governor.
Assembly Bill 172 – which originally required schools to teach this topic as part of the basic curriculum – passed the Assembly after it was amended to instead insert the requirement into state standards. The Senate passed the measure, 20-12, as amended.
In a floor memo, WEAC had encouraged senators to support the measure.
"By including labor history in the model academic standards, students are more likely to receive instruction about working class heroes who led the charge to bring equity and justice to the workplace. Their struggles have brought about a fair wage scale, safe and healthful working conditions, workers compensation and health care insurance coverage," according to the memo. "Workers and their unions deserve mention in our public school social studies classes so students gain an appreciation of the labor movement, a key part of Wisconsin’s heritage. This knowledge will help them become better informed citizens."