New York City Mayor Adams announced on April 30 the launch of an educational curriculum on “Hate Crimes and Their Impacts” in public schools across the city. The purpose of this initiative is to educate students about the effects of hate crimes and prejudices on individuals and communities.
With hate crime cases on the rise nationwide, particularly impacting the youth, the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC) in New York City collaborated with the Department of Education (DOE) and the educational organization “Facing History & Ourselves” to develop this curriculum and provide training for educators.
The curriculum consists of five lessons aimed at enhancing teachers’ ability to instruct students in understanding diversity, improving critical thinking skills, and cultivating a culture of increased civic engagement. Students will learn to identify the motives and behaviors that lead to hate crimes, examine the impact of current hate crime trends on communities, and design strategies to promote inclusivity and action.
Mayor Adams stated, “Our children are at a turning point, and investing in projects that deepen understanding of diversity and inclusion is one of the crucial ways to combat hate.”
Moreover, these courses are suitable for students in grades 6 to 12 and are available as online courses on the websites of the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes and “Facing History & Ourselves.” Given that New York City has legislation requiring the OPHC to develop hate crime education programs for schools, the “Hate Crimes and Their Impacts” curriculum also serves as a training tool for educators.
For more information on the curriculum, visit: https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-about-hate-crimes-their-impacts