These profiles contain text of state legislation about the teaching of the Holocaust, and Holocaust-explicit History/Social Studies and English/Language Arts state content standards. Also provided is contact information for state departments of education.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONTACTS
Dr. Eric Smith
Florida Department of Education
Address: 325 West Gaines Street, Suite 1514 Tallahassee, FL 32399
Legislation: The 2003 Florida Statutes
Title XLVIII
K-20 EDUCATION CODE Chapter 1003
PUBLIC K-12 EDUCATION View Entire Chapter
1003.42 Required instruction.--
(1) Each district school board shall provide all courses required for high school graduation and appropriate instruction designed to ensure that students meet State Board of Education adopted standards in the following subject areas: reading and other language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign languages, health and physical education, and the arts.
(2) Members of the instructional staff of the public schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and faithfully, using the books and materials required, following the prescribed courses of study, and employing approved methods of instruction, the following:
(f) The history of the Holocaust (1933-1945), the systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic values and institutions.
In 1994, the Florida Legislature passed the Holocaust Education Bill (SB 660) which amends Section 233.061 of the Florida Statutes (Chapters 94-114, Laws of Florida), relating to required instruction. SB 660 requires all school districts to incorporate lessons on the Holocaust as a part of the public school curriculum. The Bill states: "The history of the Holocaust (1933-1945), the systematic, planned annihilation of European Jews and other groups by Nazi Germany, a watershed event in the history of humanity, to be taught in a manner that leads to an investigation of human behavior, an understanding of the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping, and an examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful person, for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic values and institutions." The Commissioner of Education created a Task Force on Holocaust Education to serve as an advisory group and to coordinate education activities.
Contact Name:
Michael Olenick
Address:
Carlton Fields Attorneys at Law 215 S. Monroe Street
Suite 500
Museum
