BILL NUMBER: S9114
SPONSOR: WEBER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to authorizing the commissioner of education to
conduct a study regarding courses of study on the mass starvation in
Ireland from 1845 until 1850 within the state
 
PURPOSE:
This bill will authorize and direct to conduct a survey regarding
instruction on the mass starvation in Ireland from 1845 until 1850 that
this curriculum is being taught in the classroom throughout the state of
New York.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 - Authorize the commissioner of Education to direct a survey
regarding the instruction on the mass starvation in Ireland and its
course of instruction in the classroom.
Section 2 - Determine if the results of such survey submitted are
compliant with section eight hundred one of the education laws and if
needed to make recommendations to strengthen provision of such law if
such results are not compliant.
Section 3 - Implementation of a corrective action if a school district
does not respond to such survey or not affirmatively attest that such
instruction.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Nearly 175 years have passed since the "Great Famine" (1845-1852) of
Ireland. During the worst year (1847) of the famine the Ireland popu-
lation was about 8.5 million; by 1901 the population dropped to 4.4
million. Over one million people died and another one million or more
fled the country. Between 1845 and 1855 at least 2.1 million people left
Ireland, primarily on packet ships but also on steamboats and baroques -
one of the greatest exoduses from a single island in history.
This bill will help to ensure that the "Great Famine" is being taught
throughout the state of New York in each school district.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.