By Vin Gopal
Two years ago, the governor signed my bill into law creating the Commission on Holocaust Education, to determine how well school districts are doing incorporating Holocaust and genocide into their K-12 curriculum.
The new law's intent was to ensure a more standardized approach to teaching about the Holocaust and genocide. So, the law created the Commission on Holocaust Education and charged it with conducting a survey of New Jersey’s implementation of the Holocaust and Genocide Education Mandate that became law in 1994. New Jersey’s 1994 law was the first in the nation to require that every board of education include instruction on the Holocaust and genocides in an appropriate place in the curriculum of all elementary and high school students.
The Commission’s survey examined many areas of curriculum content; learning goals; instructional strategies and activities; texts and resources; and assessments. It asked teachers with experience providing instruction on the Holocaust and genocide what additional resources or training is needed to provide the instruction.
It is gratifying to report that the survey results show New Jersey school districts are meeting the Holocaust and Genocide Education Mandate. Of the 678 local education agencies surveyed, 596 responded, with 99.6 percent of reporting districts and charter schools affirmed compliance with the mandate. Of those, 523 districts, 88 percent of respondents, indicated a willingness to continue to improve their programming. (Only 2 respondents indicated that they were not providing Holocaust and Genocide instruction.)
When districts and charter schools were asked to select all of their perceived obstacles to fulfilling the Holocaust and Genocide Education Mandate, the responses varied. More than one-third (35 percent) indicated no barriers to Holocaust and genocide instruction. However, the most commonly cited challenge was "time", reported by 41 percent. Another significant obstacle was "applicability to the curriculum/grade level," which 33 percent viewed as a barrier to meeting the mandate's requirements. For those who provided additional comments, the top three obstacles mentioned were financial limitations, aligning instruction with academic standards, and determining developmentally appropriate content for elementary students and those with special needs.
The survey provided much valuable data that the Commission on Holocaust Education is using to provide further support to schools in meeting the mandate. The survey responses also revealed a willingness among districts and charter schools to share successful practices. As the Commission continues to promote Holocaust education in the state, the survey clarifies district and educator understanding of the mandate requirements at various grade levels. It is enabling the Commission to utilize resources and assistance, and to expand its collection of instructional resources while continuing to closely collaborate with the NJ Department of Education.
Our Legislative District 11 office, including my legislative partners Assemblywomen Margie Donlon and Luanne Peterpaul, has made equity for all residents a priority, and education is crucial to ensuring a safer, fairer environment. As chair of the Senate Education Committee, I can assure residents the Education Committee and our LD11 office we will continue to support educators and districts in meeting the Holocaust and Genocide Education Mandate.
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