MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONTACTS

Mr. John Keh
Content Specialist at Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Massachusetts Department of Education
Address: 350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02155
Work Phone: 781-338-6226
Fax: 781-338-3395
Email: jkeh@doe.mass.edu
Website: http://www.doe.mass.edu

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATION

Bill Number: Chapter 276
Year: 1998
Title: An Act Requiring Certain Instructions In The Public Schools Of The Commonwealth

Legislation:
In 1998 the state legislature approved Chapter 276 of the Acts of 1998 providing that "the board of education would formulate recommendations on curricular material on genocide and human rights issues, and guidelines for the teaching of such material. Said material and guidelines may include, but shall not be limited to, the period of the transatlantic slave trade and the middle passage, the great hunger period in Ireland, the Armenian genocide, the holocaust, and the Mussolini fascist regime and other recognized human rights violations and genocides."

Contact Name: John Chiang Keh
Address: Massachusetts Department of Education, Instruction & Curriculum Services 350 Main Street
City/State/Zip: Malden, MA 02148
Phone: 781-388-6226 x495
Fax: 781-388-3395
E-mail: jkeh@doe.mass.edu
Contact Name: Margaret Harris
Address: Massachusetts Department of Education 350 Main Street
City/State/Zip: Malden, MA 02148
Phone: 781-388-3300
Fax: 781-388-3383
E-mail: mharris@doe.mass.edu

MASSACHUSETTS ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Standard Type: History/Social Studies
Date Implemented: 2002
Grade Level: Middle & High School (grades 7-12)
History/Social Studies: World History II -The Rise of the Nation State to the Present: WHII.26 Describe the background, course, and consequences of the Holocaust, including its roots in the long tradition of Christian anti-Semitism, 19th century ideas about race and nation, and Nazi dehumanization of the Jews (page 60). WHII.28 Explain the consequences of World War II. (H, E) A. Physical and economic destruction B. The enormous loss of life, including millions of civilians through the bombing of population centers and the slaughter of political opponents and ethnic minorities C. Support in Europe for political reform and decolonization D. The emergence of the U.S. and the Soviet Union as the world’s two superpowers (page 61) U.S. History II - Reconstruction to the Present, 1877-2001: USII.15 Analyze how German aggression in Europe and Japanese aggression in Asia contributed to the start of World War II and summarize the major battles and events of the war. On a map of the world, locate the Allied powers (Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States) and Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan). (H, G) A. Fascism in Germany and Italy B. German rearmament and militarization of the Rhineland C. Germany’s seizure of Austria and Czechoslovakia and Germany’s invasion of Poland (76)
Web Site: http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/hss/final.pdf

Standard Type: English/Language Arts
Date Implemented: 2001
English/Language Arts: Holocaust-related literature appears on Massachusetts’ reading list through the suggestion of authors like Cynthia Ozick, Chaim Potok, and Elie Wiesel.
Web Site: http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/ela/0601.pdf

MASSACHUSETTS HOLOCAUST RESOURCES

For Holocaust-related resources in MASSACHUSETTS, click on the following link:
http://www.ahoinfo.org/membersdirectory/