Boyle bill would add Holocaust and genocide education to school curriculum

State Rep. Brendan Boyle plans to introduce legislation requiring Pennsylvania public and nonpublic schools to provide Holocaust and genocide education in their curriculum.

"It is crucial that our young people have an understanding of the implications of the Holocaust and other genocides," Boyle said. "Learning from our past is the only way to ensure that this terrible part of history never repeats itself. The lessons learned from the atrocities committed during the Holocaust should be taught and used as a lesson for the need to have tolerance of others."

Under the bill, the Department of Education would develop a model curriculum to be used by schools.

Approximately 6 million Jewish individuals lost their lives during the Holocaust, as well as millions of other individuals targeted by the Nazi regime. Boyle said that, unfortunately, instances of genocide can be found all over the world, even today.

According to the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance, and Research, five states have enacted laws requiring the teaching of the Holocaust in schools: California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and New York.