The ANNOTICO Report

The New Jersey Italian and Italian-American Heritage Commission, to their
Great Credit  have initiated a new program to combat prejudice and
highlight the achievements of Italian-Americans in 10 New Jersey school
districts.

The Program will attempt to Accentuate the Positive, and Eliminate the
Negative !!

We have a similar Commission in California, in existence longer, and yet
they have done zip, nada, zero. They are an embarrassment to themselves and
the Italian community in California, that
makes NJIIAHC's program that much more admirable.

I do have one really serious criticism.  Lesson topics are going to include
Italian immigration to New Jersey, DaVinci’s philosophy of observation,
architectural influence on Thomas Jefferson, Galileo’s experiments, the
Roman Coliseum and architecture, and stereotypes in the classroom.

Damn!!!!!! The Architecture of Montecello and the Coliseum....WHY!!!!
Even with DaVinci and Galileo, those are well known enough, and we need
lessons that show
a BROAD spectrum of Italian influence, not just a few INDIVIDUALS, and we
need more of an emphasis on ITALIAN AMERICANS. Italy's Cultural
Contribution of Rome and The Renaissance is WELL Documented, The Italian
American Contributions are NOT!!!!

Let me suggest two alternate topics:
(1)"ITALIANS IN AMERICA BEFORE THE REVOLUTION" (by Giovanni Schiavo),
including Vespucci, Cabot, Verrazzano, De Niza, Enrico Tonti, Alphonse
Tonti, (founder of Detroit, MI), Father Bressani, Father Chino, William
Paca, Francis Vigo, Paulo Bausti (Founder of Buffalo, NY), and at least 8
others.

(2) "AMERICA'S ITALIAN FOUNDING FATHERS" (by Adolph Caso), Cesare
Beccarria, and Philip Mazzei , who TAUGHT the two Americans most respected
for the Political Foundation of America, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

When you've got Howitzers, why do you want to use Pea shooters???

Suburban
Serving Old Bridge and Sayreville
BY Lauren Matthew
Staff Writer
March,10, 2005

OLD BRIDGE — A new program is being brought into township classrooms to
combat prejudice and highlight the achievements of Italian-Americans.

The program, which was initiated by the New Jersey Italian and
Italian-American Heritage Commission, formed by ex-governor James
McGreevey, will start at the middle and high school levels this year,
according to Old Bridge High School Vice Principal Joseph Sgalia.

“Teachers have already been trained,” said Sgalia, who was one of about a
dozen New Jersey educators who volunteered to create curriculum for the
program. “Between now and the end of the year, [teachers will] be giving
lessons.”

Feedback regarding the lessons will then be given to curriculum writers,
like Sgalia.

Old Bridge is one of just 10 New Jersey school districts, Sgalia said, to
be chosen to test the program. Many more districts applied but were
unsuccessful.

“I was very honored that my high school was selected, since I’m one of the
curriculum writers and I’ve been in Old Bridge for 29 years,” he said.

The commission asked for teachers to volunteer to test the program, using
anywhere from one to 16 lessons in their classrooms. Lesson topics include
Italian immigration to New Jersey, DaVinci’s philosophy of observation,
architectural influence on Thomas Jefferson, Galileo’s experiments, the
Roman Coliseum and architecture, and stereotypes in the classroom.

“The program is meant to enhance lessons already in the classrooms,” Sgalia
said.

“I hope it’s used as a resource tool by any teacher who wants to use it,”
he continued.

On-line resources for the pilot program will be available as well, Sgalia
noted.

The program is part of an effort to look at heritage studies in addition to
tackling stereotypes, he said.

Lessons for this year are geared toward students in grades six through 12,
though the program could be implemented in township elementary schools next
year.

“Next year, there’ll be a sequel for [grades] K to five,” Sgalia said.

“It was an exciting project,” he noted. “It’s something different.”

http://suburban.gmnews.com/
news/2005/0310/Front_Page/027.html

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