State Senator Kevin Rader (D-Boca Raton) and Representative Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton) today filed the Holocaust Education Act of 2020, SB 184 and HB 91 respectively.
This legislation updates the original 1994 law by strengthening the requirements to teach the Holocaust in schools, having the Department of Education create curriculum standards, and requiring both charter schools and private schools accepting government vouchers to participate in this education.
Clearly, schools have not been fulfilling the mandatory requirement to teach Florida students about the Holocaust. We need the Department of Education to provide guidance and resources, and we need all schools that receive public money to fully participate in these mandatory programs.
Studies show that vast numbers of children and adults do not have a basic understanding of the events of the Holocaust. The only way to prevent a travesty like it from happening again is to understand what it was, how it happened, and to learn lessons from our past.
“It is imperative that our young people learn the history and lessons of the Holocaust. As time moves on, we must equip future generations with factual, historical knowledge that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. This legislation will do just that. We call upon our colleagues in the Legislature to join us in supporting this bill,” said Senator Rader.
“We look forward to working with our colleagues in a bipartisan fashion to advance this important bill. Every government-funded school must teach our children about the atrocities of the Holocaust, and they must learn the importance of confronting racism in order to prevent future tragedies,” stated Representative Polsky.
