Senator would end child abuse education

Friday, May 21, 1999 | 5:03 a.m.

The study plan was amended into AB313, a bill by Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani that deals with teacher recruitment.

The amendment, adopted Thursday, was proposed by Sen. Maurice Washington, R-Sparks, and mirrors now-dead SB285, which he cosponsored.

Under the amendment, Nevada high school students would study the federalist papers, Lincoln's Gettysburg address, the Emancipation Proclamation and George Washington's farewell address. Students already must study the U.S. and Nevada constitutions.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, arguing against the amendment, challenged the entire Senate to repeat one line from the first U.S. president's farewell speech.

"Goodbye?" asked Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, drawing laughs.

Senate Democrats also expressed concern about other aspects of the amendment, including wording that apparently deletes provisions that children be taught about child abuse, sign language and the American free-enterprise system.

Sen. Washington said those provisions were taken out because they weren't needed.

"We don't need courses of study on child abuse," he said, adding that such courses "don't lend themselves to furthering growth," he added.

"These classes just glorify the negative aspects of our society. We have enough bad stuff going on without enhancing and promoting more," he said after the floor session.

"Nobody wants to encourage child abuse, but it's important to accent more positive aspects of life," he added.