Mumtaz Hussain
New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled ‘Teaching About Hate Crimes and their Impacts,’ a curriculum tailored for NYC public schools to educate students on hate crimes, bias incidents, and their repercussions on individuals and communities.
Developed in collaboration with Facing History and Ourselves, the initiative responds to the escalating national trend of hate crimes, particularly affecting young people. Supported by the New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC) and the Department of Education (DOE), the curriculum consists of five lessons empowering educators to enhance students’ grasp of diversity, critical thinking, and civic engagement.
Mayor Adams emphasized the urgent need to foster inclusivity and combat hate, highlighting New York City’s diversity as its strength.
Accessible to students in grades 6-12, the curriculum is available online through the OPHC and Facing History & Ourselves’ websites. Facing History & Ourselves has conducted training sessions for DOE educators, with further opportunities planned for the coming year.
Mandated by city legislation, ‘Teaching About Hate Crimes and their Impacts’ underscores the Adams administration’s dedication to tackling the surge in hate crimes across NYC’s five boroughs. Facing History & Ourselves will collaborate with the OPHC to regularly update the curriculum.
Aligned with the city’s efforts to combat hate, bias, and discrimination, the initiative complements previous endeavors like the ‘Breaking Bread, Building Bonds’ initiative, which successfully brought together over 10,000 New Yorkers to promote unity and understanding across cultures and traditions. DOE Chancellor David C.
Banks emphasized the importance of educating youth to combat hate and build a brighter future. Deanna Logan, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ), stressed the significance of cross-cultural literacy in mitigating hate and bias incidents.
Pam Haas, executive director of Facing History & Ourselves, highlighted the organization’s longstanding commitment to developing curricula that foster empathy and empower students to confront bigotry. Through its holistic approach, the OPHC aims to prevent hate crimes, address biases, and facilitate healing within affected communities.
Facing History & Ourselves employs historical lessons to empower educators and students to confront bigotry and hate. By examining past instances of racism, antisemitism, and prejudice, the organization equips participants with the knowledge and understanding to make informed choices that promote equity and justice.
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