AB2064 on the Senate floor

This is an email from Assemblyman Juan Arambula's office.

AB 2064 was passed out of the Senate Education Committee and it’s on its way to the Senate Appropriations Committee. However, it is not too early to start working and concentrating our efforts on the Governor’s Office. We would like to invite all of you to attend an in person meeting in our Fresno District office with Sarah Reyes, Chief of Staff to Assembly Member Juan Arambula. The meeting will be from 12:00pm-1:00pm on Tuesday, July 1.

District Office:
2550 Mariposa Mall, Room 5031
Fresno, CA 93721
559-445-5532



If you are unable to attend but can join us via conference call, also let me know in your RSVP. I will follow up with you on call-in number and pin information. To RSVP, please contact me, Mariana Corona at 916.319.2031 or by email Mariana.Corona@asm.ca.gov.

Thank You for all your hard work and dedication to this important issue.

A Tragic Death in The Philippines

Mac Thi Lieu, one of the last remaining Stateless Vietnamese in the Philippines was found dead in Palawan. Here is a report from the Philippines. I don't know about this woman but will post more information as they come in.

A 50-year-old Vietnamese national was found dead near the Vietnamese Village in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province, dzBB radio reported Thursday morning.

Radio dzBB's Palawan affiliate reported that the naked body of the victim, initially identified as Mac Thi Lieu, was found at 6 a.m. near a canal along Km 13 of the North National Highway.

The area where the body was found is in Sta. Lourdes village in the city.

Police are trying to determine what caused the death, even as they suspect the victim may have been sexually assaulted. - GMANews.TV

Updated 6/24/08
Ms. Mac Thi Lieu was born in Hai Phong, Viet Nam in 1953. She came to the Philippines in 1989 with 90 other boat people picked up from their sinking boat (they went 9 days without foods and water) by the Canadian supply ship HMSC The Provider. Canadian Ambassador Andre Simard in Manilla gave assurance to the Philippines that they will be taken to Canada by December 92. Canada used UNHCR Comprehensive Plan of Action to disallow their admission to Canada and made away with its promise to those desperate people...

In 2007, three groups in Canada were committed to take Ms Lieu under their care and support, following Minister Finley's opening door to those last Vietnamese in the Philippines.

History-Social Science Framework Focus Group

The California Department of Education held a focus group meeting in San Jose Friday, May 30, 2008 to discuss the updating of the current Curriculum Framework of History-Social Science teaching in public schools.  There were approximately 12 people in the focus group, most of whom are educators.  

The moderator asked 5 questions on how to improve the current framework.  These questions related to the topics like standardize testing, universal access, professional development, resources.  Overall, the comments from the participants reflect the reality in classrooms which does not meet with the expectation and standard from the current framework.  Many voiced the disinterest from students because the materials do not provide concrete evidence of their realities.  In another word, our world had changed but the history in the textbooks have not. Others suggested the incorporation of technology.  While some raised concerns about the lack of diversity viewpoints.  Almost all agreed that textbook history is very Eurocentric and there is a need to include other perspectives.  Above is a short video bite of the meeting when the participant referred to the ineffectiveness of the current framework in a 21st century classroom.

There will be a focus group in Los Angeles Thursday June 5, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Los Angeles County Office of Education

9300 Imperial Highway Los Angeles CA 90242

and Friday June 6 in San Diego

San Diego County Office of Education

2401 Linda Vista Road San Diego CA  92111

For more details: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/hs/cf/index.asp