Bill would make Holocaust education a requirement in Rhode Island
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
The state of Rhode Island is looking to make it mandatory for schools to teach students about genocide. The legislation comes in the wake of recent hate crimes across the state. Hate graffiti was painted outside a Cranston stadium and the sign outside Pawtucket’s only Jewish synagogue was defaced with a massive swastika.
"The outpouring of the community has just been nothing short of tremendous,” said David Pliskin, the president of Congregation Ohawe Sholam in Pawtucket.
Those the congregation say the more education there is about the Holocaust the less likely those hateful attacks will happen.
"It is the entire community’s issue to know and understand so that God willing this kind of event won’t happen again,” Pliskin said.
That’s why State Senator Gayle Goldin sponsored the bill, requiring school districts to teach students about genocide.
"Many schools have integrated some teachings about Holocaust and other genocides as the curriculum. This is really a formalization of that process and also making sure that we have set curriculum,” said State Sen. Gayle Goldin.
The legislation passed in both the House and Senate. If the governor sign’s the bill into law, each school district will decide whether to teach the subject in either middle or high school starting in the 2017 – 2018 school year; but every student in Rhode Island would receive extensive genocide education by high school graduation, a move parents we spoke to support.
"I think it’s a great idea I think kids need to learn what actually happened and they need to be informed,” said Juliette Chan of Lincoln.
"My father was, my great-grandfather was a Russian Jew so I think that should be part of the U.S. history absolutely,” said Lisa Russian De Medina of Barrington.
ABC6 is told that Governor Gina Raimondo is going to sign the bill sometime in the coming days.
© WLNE-TV 2016
