CA State Senate Passes Bill Requiring Schools to Teach About President Obama

A new, unprecedented bill passed by California’s State Senate on Thursday will encourage public schools to teach students about the historical significance surrounding Barack Obama’s status as the first African-American president of the United States of America. 

Assembly Bill 1921 passed with a 30-1 vote, according to the Associated Press. It was introduced by Assemblyman Dan Holden (D-Pasadena). Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) says the bill would require the Instructional Quality Commission (which facilitates much of California’s Common Core framework) to consider teaching students about Obama’s election within the context of past voter discrimination, the AP notes.

Sen. Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) was the only senator who voted to strike down the bill. He said, “We’ve never done this for any previous president,” the AP notes. 

Mitchell reportedly placed great emphasis on the importance of learning about “overcoming our nation’s past to elect our first black president.”