Nadler Resolution Urges Educators to Update Teaching of Russian History

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler introduced a resolution yesterday encouraging educators and publishers to modernize the Russian history taught in America’s public schools.  Relations between the United States and Russia have changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War, and the former Soviet republics have established a noteworthy history in embracing and implementing democracy. Yet many educational materials used in American schools still offer only biased histories of Russia and the former Soviet Union.

A recent study of textbooks used in New York City high schools pointed to unbalanced opinions of Russian history. The study also revealed many textbooks suffered from errors of omission specifically evident in the post-Communist era.

Congressman Nadler’s resolution, H.Res. 609, calls for educators to reexamine their history curricula to ensure fair and up-to-date teaching of Russian history and affairs, and encourages textbook publishers to “include more information and additional points of view regarding Russian history.”

“More than 15 years have passed since the end of the Cold War,” Congressman Nadler said.  “With Russian-Americans making such large contributions in communities around our country, our students should be learning about modern-day Russian, not just about Cold-War antagonism.”

New York City alone is home to more than 240,000 people of Russian descent.  Congressman Nadler’s district includes some of the nation’s largest Russian-speaking communities, including Brighton Beach.

A copy of Congressman Nadler’s resolution is attached.

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