N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 57.53: The Amistad commission; duties and responsibilities

§ 57.53. The Amistad commission; duties and responsibilities. The

Amistad commission shall have the following responsibilities and duties:

1. to survey and catalog the extent and breadth of education

concerning the African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of

slavery in this country and the contributions of African-Americans to

our society presently being incorporated into the curricula and

textbooks and taught in the school systems of the state; and, to

inventory those African slave trade, American slavery, or relevant

African-American history memorials, exhibits and resources which should

be incorporated into courses of study at educational institutions and

schools throughout the state.

2. to compile a roster of individual volunteers who are willing to

share their knowledge and experience in classrooms, seminars and

workshops with students and teachers on the subject of the African slave

trade, American slavery and the impact of slavery on our society today,

and the contributions of African-Americans to our country;

3. to increase awareness and encourage school districts to utilize

curricula on African-American history by:

(a) establishing and administering a program to publicly recognize

schools that do an outstanding job teaching subjects related to the

African-American experience through a designation of special status or

other award as determined by the commission; and

(b) offering grants to individual teachers who demonstrate exemplary

practices teaching subjects related to the African-American experience,

as determined by the commission, and the commission shall catalog and

publicize such practices for use by other teachers; and

4. to prepare reports for the governor and the legislature regarding

its findings and recommendations on facilitating the inclusion of the

African slave trade, American slavery studies, African-American history

and special programs in the educational system of the state.