Holocaust is part of the curriculum. We expect better

It was a shock that in this day and age, in a community with a lot of Jewish people, that a long time principal at the local high school would make statements in writing that could be interpreted as denying that there was what we today call The Holocaust.

Yes, there are the bigots and demagogues who deny the Holocaust, but in a state that has the study of the Holocaust as part of its curriculum, and for someone of authority to say,” I can’t say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event….,” and “….we are a public school and not all of our parents have the same beliefs,” is disconcerting at best.

The school district made the correct decision in relieving Mr. William Latson of his duties. What is not appreciated is that it took over a year for this to come to light to the public.

The Holocaust is part of the curriculum, and we expect better of our educators. It is there to be discussed as part of history, and not as a myth. Allowing students flexibility in learning, and to have deep critical thinking is a plus in this topic and all topics.

I am sure that I am not the only person out there who has had someone tell them face to face that there is too much discussion of The Holocaust. I’ve also had people tell me that the figure of approximately 6 million Jews murdered is speculative. The atrocities of the Nazis are well documented.

In addition to the 6 million Jews murdered, there were also 5 million other groups of people murdered. Clergy, Soviet prisoners of war, gypsies, homosexuals, and people with physical and mental disabilities.

This was a crime against humanity, and if we don’t want to have a repeat of this, or other blights on our history such as slavery and racial injustice, there needs to be zero tolerance against either ignorant or bigoted educators in a decision making capacity who would hold back on the teaching of these subjects.

State Rep. Richard Stark, D-Weston