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Date: January 12, 2006
SACRAMENTO, CA - The Hindu
American Foundation (HAF) has retained the law firm of Olson,
Hagel and Fishburn, LLP of Sacramento, California to represent
the Foundation in its interactions with the California State
Board of Education (SBE). The SBE is currently considering
a determination of the California Curriculum Commission that
several edits and corrections of textbooks regarding the teaching
of Hinduism to public school students be accepted.
The Vedic Foundation (VF)
and Hindu Education Foundation (HEF) previously submitted
extensive edits as part of a lengthy review process conducted
by SBE and the Curriculum Commission. HAF became involved
in the process when it became apparent that the SBE and its
staff failed to adequately address a substantial number of
the VF and HEF edits, and improperly allowed certain individuals
to undermine the procedures available for public debate and
resolution of these issues. The most recent example of this
appears to have occurred at a January 6, 2006 meeting in which
previous determinations of the Curriculum Commission were
apparently re-opened and reviewed in a private session from
which VF, HEF and HAF were excluded.
Although a final determination
with respect to these matters may be made by the SBE at its
February meeting, attorneys representing HAF are planning
to appear at the SBE meeting January 12, 2006 and provide
Board members with the attached statement.
"We believe that the
Curriculum Commission of the California State Board of Education
made its recommendations to the SBE based on an accurate understanding
of science, history and the sentiments of those people in
California that actually practice the Hindu faith being taught
in schools," said Suhag Shukla, Esq., Legal Counsel of
HAF. "It would be completely inappropriate - and we believe
illegal - for those recommendations to be modified by the
staff and Board members as the result of a closed meeting.
HAF is committed to ensure that a fair and open process is
followed, and the decision to retain counsel on this matter
reflects our concern that the appropriate process is perhaps
not being followed in this case."
A lack of communication
from the office of the SBE to HAF regarding these concerns,
despite numerous attempts, led the foundation to retain counsel.
"We are fully cognizant
of how strongly our constituents feel about the textbook issue,
and we at HAF are determined to utilize every possible option
to ensure that the SBE process remains fair and impartial
for Hindu Americans," added Ms. Shukla.
The Sacramento based law-firm
will handle communication with the SBE on behalf of HAF and
ensure that the concerns of the Hindu American community regarding
textbook portrayals of Hinduism are conveyed. Attorneys at
HAF continue to provide background material, the context of
the current controversy and perspectives of the Hindu American
community to the firm.
"Hindus throughout
the United States are watching this process with concern since
the results have broad implications for all Hindus. For many
years, Hinduism was taught from a non-Hindu perspective. All
that we are asking is that Hinduism be taught as per state
law, which asks that the education 'Instill in each child
a sense of pride in his or her heritage; develop a feeling
of self-worth...; eradicate the roots of prejudice... and
enable all students to become aware and accepting of religious
diversity while being allowed to remain secure in any religious
beliefs they may already have'", said Mihir Meghani,
M.D., President of HAF.
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