Sikh Coalition Joins Groups Supporting Religious Diversity, Literacy in New York City Schools via Resolution 1257
New York, NY — Today, organizers unveiled a letter signed by more than 70 diverse religious leaders, educators, and community organizations in support of Resolution 1257, which calls on the New York City Department of Education to provide age-appropriate religious literacy and diversity curricula for all students, and to offer professional development for teachers in this area.
This effort is being led by Council Member Daniel Dromm of District 25 (Jackson Heights & Elmhurst), along with a coalition of religious and secular organizations including the Interfaith Center of New York, Muslim Community Network New York, the Sikh Coalition, and Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding.
“Religious diversity is an integral part of what makes our city a great place to live,” said Council Member Dromm. “Understanding, acceptance, and appreciation of others starts young, and that’s why I am proud to introduce this resolution to ensure that we are empowering our teachers and equipping the next generation of New Yorkers with constitutionally-appropriate education regarding different faith traditions.”
“Res. 1257 will create safer, more inclusive learning environments for students of all faith traditions–and a more culturally aware city for all New Yorkers,” said representatives of the groups that organized the letter in a joint statement. “We are grateful to Council Member Dromm for his leadership on this issue, and hopeful that other members of the City Council will co-sponsor this important effort given how essential religious diversity education is to the health of our multicultural democracy.”
“In a city as diverse as New York, our students have the immense benefit of learning from one another,” said Jody Madell, a ninth-grade history teacher at Lyons Community School in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. “While I’m pleased to see those interactions in my classroom every day, I’m excited by the prospect of curriculum material and preparation for educators that will ensure religious literacy is a core part of how we prepare our students for life in a city that is famous for bringing together so many cultures and traditions from around the world.”
At Thursday’s event, the groups announced their intent to encourage their various constituencies to contact their councilmembers directly and urge co-sponsorship of Res. 1257 in the weeks ahead.