HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 HB  2418

Title: An act relating to a World War II oral history project.

Brief Description: Establishing a World War II oral history project.

Sponsors: Representatives Woods, Conway, Talcott, D. Schmidt, Koster, Bush, Wensman, Carlson, Rockefeller, Kenney, Cody, Barlean, Schoesler, Sump, Cairnes, Thomas, Huff, Haigh, Mastin, McDonald, Lantz, Santos, Skinner, Ogden and McIntire.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date: January 17, 2000

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:  About 250,000 Washingtonians served their country in the armed forces of the United States during World War II.  Almost 6000 of these residents lost their lives during the war.  On Friday, May 28, 1999 Washington became one of the first states in the country to officially dedicate a memorial to World War II veterans.  The memorial was designed by artist/sculptor Simon Kogan of Olympia, and features the names of Washington residents who lost their lives during the war.  Veterans and other supporters raised almost $800,000 to fund the memorial.

Veterans and other members of the World War II Memorial Committee convened an educational subcommittee to help develop an instructional guide on the memorial for use in Washington's schools.  In 1998, members of the subcommittee decided to create an educational foundation to help provide an objective and accurate overview of the war for students, and help students understand and learn the lessons of the war.  The foundation also recommended the creation of an outline or guide for oral history that will interact with K-12 World War II curriculum.

Summary:  The World War II Oral History Project is established in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  For the education of our state's children, the program is intended to preserve the memories of the citizens who contributed to the state and country during World War II.  The contributions may include service in the armed forces of the country or other forms of service to the nation or community.  The memories will be preserved though audiotapes, videotapes, films, stories, digitally, and through other appropriate means.

The office shall convene an advisory committee to assist in the design and implementation of the project.  The committee may include representatives of veterans' organizations, historical societies, social studies educators, the state's oral history program, and other appropriate state agencies.  The office may contract with schools and filming and taping specialists, and may use other means recommended by the advisory committee.  The office will also prepare instructional guides to help teachers use the material, and will report on the project by December 1, 2001, and every odd-numbered year thereafter that the project is funded.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.