03/04/2008 09:00 AM Senate STATE AFFAIRS

            HB 259-ESTABLISHING ALASKA HISTORY WEEK                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE announced the consideration  of HB 259. [Before the                                                               
committee was HB 259(efd add).]                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:33:10 AM                                                                                                                    
REPRESENTATIVE  ANNA FAIRCLOUGH,  Alaska State  Legislature, said                                                               
HB  259 establishes  the first  week of  March as  Alaska History                                                               
Week. The idea came from  a national history program where Alaska                                                               
has many  contestants. National  History day  focuses on  a topic                                                               
and  this year  it  is  conflict and  compromise.  The bill  will                                                               
"align us so that our  students could compete nationally and also                                                               
to honor the  different things that have happened  to make Alaska                                                               
the  great state  that it  is by  designating the  first week  of                                                               
March  as   Alaska  History   week."  The   earthquake,  Alaska's                                                               
purchase, and the Iditarod all  occurred in March. A history week                                                               
will recognize  all the great Alaska  accomplishments. It doesn't                                                               
require the schools to do anything,  but it creates an avenue for                                                               
them to participate nationally with other colleagues.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
9:35:02 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS  said he  objects to the  first statement  of her                                                               
sponsor statement that  speaks of Alaska having  a short history.                                                               
We  have  a  longer  history  than  most.  Most  people  on  this                                                               
continent came through Alaska.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH said she will change that.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
9:35:43 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR MCGUIRE asked if schools teach Alaska history.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FAIRCLOUGH said  it is  taught in  Anchorage, but                                                               
she doesn't think it is mandated by the state.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR MCGUIRE  said she  benefitted from  learning it  in school.                                                               
The basic background of Alaska benefitted her.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  FAIRCLOUGH  said  Alaska  has  a  rich  heritage.                                                               
Teachers can teach to the point in time of history week.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
9:37:13 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  MCGUIRE   wishes  she  can   mandate  Alaska   history  in                                                               
California schools.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BUNDE said  he had a college requirement to  take a state                                                               
history class and asked if that is the case in Alaska.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE FAIRCLOUGH said  Alaska history was not  a part of                                                               
her accreditation.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:37:57 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  STEVENS  moved to  report  HB  259 from  committee  with                                                               
individual  recommendations and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There                                                               
being no objection, HB 259 (efd add) moved from committee.