We, concerned citizens and members of the Turkish-American community, respectfully urge the New York State Department of Education to ensure balanced, inclusive, and academically sound instruction on the complex events of 1915, often referred to as the “Armenian Genocide.”

While we support the teaching of difficult and sensitive historical events, we are deeply concerned that the current or proposed curriculum presents a one-sided narrative, omitting critical historical context—such as the civil war conditions, mutual interethnic violence, and the deaths of millions, including Ottoman Muslims, Armenians, and others.

This approach not only marginalizes the voices of Turkish-American students, but also disregards ongoing historical debates among reputable scholars worldwide. It creates a classroom environment where some students feel blamed or silenced based on their heritage.

We urge you to take the following steps:

1. Include Turkish scholarly perspectives when addressing the events of 1915 in any K-12 curriculum.

2. Consult Turkish-American educators, historians, and community organizations to provide context and representation.

3. Promote critical thinking, not political bias, when addressing controversial historical issues in the classroom.

Students in New York deserve to learn history with integrity, nuance, and balance—not through selective narratives driven by political pressure.

Thank you for your commitment to educational fairness, diversity, and intellectual honesty.