Arizona Mandates Holocaust Education to Combat Antisemitism, Schools Face January Deadline

In an age where the shadows of history threaten to be forgotten, Arizona schools are now under a mandate to shine a light on one of humanity's darkest chapters. Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has put the weight of a 2021 law behind him, decreeing that all Arizona students must learn about the Holocaust and other genocides, as reported by Grand Canyon Times. Districts and charter schools have been given a deadline, to submit their instructional plans by January 24th.

Having seen the blight of ignorance carried on the winds of recent events, including pro-Hamas protests and antisemitic propaganda at middle and high schools, Horne fired off an email directive to put a stop to it. Comments on the rising tide of antisemitism, "We have learned all-too-well how many people are ignorant about the realities of the Holocaust and other genocides of history," Horne stated. Tethered to this concern is the belief that knowledge is a shield: "Students would not be vulnerable to antisemitic propaganda if they had received proper Holocaust instruction," Horne emphasized.

Glimpses into the real-life impact of such education are offered by Tucson resident Andrew Schot, a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor. Schot, who recounted memories such as going to school with Anne Frank before being sent to concentration camps, underscores the relevance of these lessons. As he shared with ABC15, "I run into a lot of people that have no idea what the Holocaust is all about and that’s scary because it can happen to them."

While the state law already requires at least two lessons on the Holocaust between grades seven and twelve, it's the recent uptick in antisemitism that has put the urgency in Horne's stride. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, having signed the law, and Jewish State Representative Alma Hernandez, a fervent advocate for the bill, echo a unified message: remember so as not to repeat. "History tells us if we forget some of these events…they happen again," Schot's words, a chilling reminder of the past's proximity.

The approach taken by Arizona reflects a broader coming-to-terms with the need for an informed future generation, equipped with the lore of history, to wage a better fight against the prejudices that have long plagued society. As the schools line up their curricular responses, the state watches, hoping that awareness can be the first step toward tolerance and understanding.