Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
conference a month later my wife confronted the teacher with the questions I had raised in my letter. Putting her off, he said he would not be teaching the chapter on Russian history anyway. When she asked why the textbook included information about the Holocaust but issue extensively and that the matter had been resolved. Apparently, my taxpayer complaints had struck a nerve, although “extensively” was stretching the truth so mewhat. Without much hope for success but somewhat encouraged that someone had finally responded to my letters, we began collecting reference materials and was pleasantly surprised when we received a call from Barbara Moses, the Curriculum Coordinator of Social Studies for the Philadelphia School District. Ms. Moses was not only grateful that parents were getting involved in the education process, but also extended an invitation to meet with her and review a new history textbook that was being considered as a replacement for the old text. Upon learning that my wife was the curator of a museum run by the Ukrainian Heritage Studies Center at Manor Junior College, she suggested that a meeting of the Social Studies Department Directors be held at the museum. I had finally reached someone in authority who wanted to make a difference. not about the forced famine in Ukraine, he hedged and again repeated that he was not going to teach about the time period in question. He added that if the subject did come up, my son could enlighten him in class. Two months later, my son’s history teacher was out sick and a substitute teacher began teaching the chapter on Russia straight from the book. When my son’s teacher returned, another irate letter left my computer. When my son brought the letter to class, the teacher refused to read it. Now thoroughly vexed, I declared war on the archaic school system and the arrogance of those whose jobs depended on my taxes. I dashed off a letter to the head of the history department with copies to the school principal and all the members of the Philadelphia school board and City Council. Finally I got some attention. The head of the history department wrote to say he would consider looking at historical materials if we had them, but would make no promises. A week later, a letter arrived from a City Councilman and School Board member, stating that the department head had told him we had discussed the The next few weeks were spent developing an agenda and preparing a handout on the history of Ukraine for the meeting with the social studies de partment directors. A Ukrainian history teacher, Roman Dubenko, volunteered to give a presentation to the group. Mr. Dubenko explains a point to one of the Social Studies Department Directors. Ihor Czenstuch, Director of Admissions at Manor Junior Col lege, makes a point to Barbara Moses, Curriculum Coordinator of Social Studies for the Philadelphia School District. Looking on are historian Roman Dubenko and Chrystyna Prokopovych, curator UHSC Museum.
Page load link
Go to Top