Dozens of people met inside
Lincoln Middle School in
Selma Saturday to listen to the state superintendent of schools, Tom Torlakson.
Torlakson informed folks that changes are coming to the history and social studies curriculum being taught in our public schools due to the recent passage of senate bill 15-40
By 2014, textbooks will feature images and information which tell the story of the Sikh community
“Their contributions over the last 100 years to the economy of California and bringing their strength of values to California,” Torlakson said.
The hope is that through education students worshiping the Sikh religion will face less scrutiny on campus.
“One of the problems our children are facing in the schools is harassment and bullying because there is still misunderstanding,” Sharnjit Purewal, member of the Sikh Council of Califronia said.
Gurdeep Shergill is a 4th grade teacher at Fresno's Polk Elementary.
“This is a great step to teach our fellow Americans about who the Sikh Americans are and plus saying no to bullying. No child should be bullied. Every child should feel safe at school,” Shergill said
Sikh leaders say the more people know, the more likely they are to understand that they are peaceful people.
Basically our core belief is we're all children of god, so we shouldn't hate each other. We should love each other,” Purewal said.
