Genocide Education Now Required in Michigan Schools

Lansing, MI — Students in Michigan’s public schools will be required to study the World War II Holocaust and the Armenian massacre from 1915-1920 under legislation signed Tuesday by Gov. Rick Snyder.

“Our next generation of leaders needs to have the wherewithal to recognize and help prevent widespread harm to their fellow men and women,” Snyder said in a statement.

“Teaching the students of Michigan about genocide is important because we should remember and learn about these terrible events in our past while continuing to work toward creating a more tolerant society,” he said.

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The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Klint Kesto, R-Commerce Township, requires that all social studies curriculum for grades 8-12 in public schools and academies include instruction on genocide. 

The new law references only the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide, but Snyder said instruction need not be limited to those atrocities. 

An estimated 6 million Jews died in the World War II Nazi Holocaust. An estimated 1.5 million Armenians died during the World War I massacre by Ottoman Turks, though officials in Turkey dispute both the death toll and the claim of genocide.

In his signing letter, Snyder emphasized “a delicate balance we need to be mindful of when we consider requiring that certain subjects be included in our statewide education system.”

“The recommendations of local school boards, teachers, other professional educators and parents need to be considered when developing a curriculum,” he said, adding that his support for the bill “should in no way signal any indication that elected state officials are the best guiding voice on what specific material should be taught in the classroom.”

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Image credit: David Williss licensed under Creative Commons