BOSTON (7/31/2020) – On Thursday, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously voted to adopt a bill that will educate middle and high school students on the history of genocide, including the Holocaust.
“Students need to be educated about the causes of genocide if we are to ensure that history is not repeated,” said Majority Leader Senator Cynthia Stone Creem (D-Newton). “Learning about the paths that various societies and cultures have taken—from bigotry and hatred all the way to expulsion and genocide—will help future generations avoid this tragedy.”
The bill requires each school district to annually file a description of their lesson plan and programs related to genocide education with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The bill also establishes a competitive grant program that schools and districts can apply to for additional programming support.
This bill now moves to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.