Madison – Students will now be required to learn about the Holocaust and other genocides in Wisconsin’s schools. On Wednesday, Governor Tony Evers signed a bill authored by State Senator Alberta Darling to require Holocaust education at least once during middle school and once during high school.
“It’s my hope this bill will help foster understanding and empathy for different people and cultures,” Darling said “The history and lessons of the Holocaust are being lost. Future generations must be taught about what happened to make sure it never happens again.”
Two-thirds of American millennials surveyed could not identify Auschwitz. Twenty-two percent of millennials in the poll said they haven’t heard of the Holocaust or are not sure whether they’ve heard of it — twice the percentage of U.S. adults who said the same.
“The need for Holocaust education is greater than ever,” Darling said, “As the number of living Holocaust survivors dwindles, this legislation will make sure their eye-witness accounts and stories live on.”
The Nathan and Esther Pelz Holocaust Education Resource Center (HERC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin will provide the materials, programming, and professional development necessary to implement this requirement at no additional costs to schools. Over the past few months, HERC has built a comprehensive website that includes over 140 lesson plans (with even more in development) for schools to use free of charge.
Senator Darling represents portions of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha Counties.
