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State Profiles on Holocaust Education

WASHINGTON

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.

WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONTACTS

Mr. Caleb Perkins
ProgramSupervisor, Social Studies/Inter'l Educ at Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Address: P.O. Box 47200 Old Capitol Building
Olympia, WA 98504--7200

Work Phone: 360-725-6351
Fax: 360-725-6017
Email: Caleb.Perkins@k12.wa.us
Website: http://www.k12.wa.us/curriculuminstruction/SocStudies

WASHINGTON LEGISLATION

Bill Number: SHB2212
Year: 1992
Title: An Act Relating to study of the Holocaust

Legislation:
House Bill 2212- RCW 28A.300.115 Holocaust instruction — Preparation and availability of instructional materials. 1992 (1) Every public high school is encouraged to include in its curriculum instruction on the events of the period in modern world history known as the Holocaust, during which six million Jews and millions of non-Jews were exterminated. The instruction may also include other examples from both ancient and modern history where subcultures or large human populations have been eradicated by the acts of humankind. The studying of this material is a reaffirmation of the commitment of free peoples never again to permit such occurrences. (2) The superintendent of public instruction may prepare and make available to all school districts instructional materials for use as guidelines for instruction under this section. [1992 c 24 § 1.]

Contact Name: Caleb Perkins
Address: Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction P.O. Box 47200, Old Capitol Building
City/State/Zip: Olympia, WA 98504-7200
Phone: 360-725-6351
Fax: 360-725-6017
E-mail: cperkins@ospi.wednet.edu

WASHINGTON ACADEMIC STANDARDS

Standard Type: History/Social Studies
Date Implemented: 2000
History/Social Studies: Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRs) 1993 EALRs with Grade Level Expectations (GLEs) - Social Studies 2008 Social Studies EALR 4: HISTORY – The student understands and applies knowledge of historical thinking, chronology, eras, turning points, major ideas, individuals, and themes of local, Washington State, tribal, United States, and world history in order to evaluate how history shapes the present and future. Component 4.3: Understands that there are multiple perspectives and interpretations of historical events. Grade 5: U.S. - Encounter, Colonization, and Devastation Analyzes the multiple perspectives and interpretations of historical events in U.S. history. Examples: • Examines different accounts of the colonization era, including colonists’ perspective of settlement and indigenous people’s perspective of genocide Grades 9-10: World – International Conflicts (1870 – Present) Causes of Conflict Analyzes and interprets historical materials from a variety of perspectives in world history (1450- present).Examples: • Distinguishes between conflicting views of the causes of Rwandan genocide. • Distinguishes between conflicting views of the causes of the Russian Revolution. • Distinguishes between conflicting views of the causes of the Holocaust. Component 4.4: Uses history to understand the present and plan for the future. Grades 9 and 10: World - Emergence and development of new nations (1900 – Present) Analyzes how an understanding of world history can help us prevent problems today. Examples: • Examines the United Nations’ ability to fight the spread of AIDS worldwide based on the success of international public health campaigns in the past. • Examines how study of the Holocaust has led to efforts to prevent genocide across the world. . Social Studies EALR 3: GEOGRAPHY – The student applies the concepts of location, region, and movement and demonstrates knowledge of how geographic features and human cultures impact environments to make reasoned decisions. Component 3.1: Understands the physical characteristics, cultural characteristics and location of places and regions. Grade 12- CWP - Human Rights Applies geographic tools, including computer-based mapping systems, to acquire, process, and report information. Examples: • Considers the potential for peace in the Middle East using historical and current maps of Israel and Palestine. • Examines the causes of mass killings and genocide in Bosnia using historical and current maps. Social Studies EALR 5: SOCIAL STUDIES SKILLS – The student understands and applies reasoning skills to conduct research, deliberate, form, and evaluate positions through the processes of reading, writing, and communicating. Component 5.3: Deliberates public issues. Grade 12: CWP – Globalization and the Economy Evaluates how the discussion and the proposed alternative resolutions changed or solidified one’s own position on public issues. Examples: • Evaluates how classroom discussions and possible alternative resolutions have changed or solidified one’s own position on whether the events in Darfur should be classified as a genocide.
Web Site: http://www.k12.wa.us/curriculumInstruct/SocStudies/frameworks.aspx

 

Standard Type: English/Language Arts
Date Implemented: 1998
English/Language Arts: The Holocaust is not mentioned explicitly in Washington's Essential Academic Learning Requirements: Social Studies.
Web Site: http://www.k12.wa.us/CurriculumInstruct/default.aspx

WASHINGTON HOLOCAUST RESOURCES

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

For other Holocaust resources in WASHINGTON, either click on the following sites or contact the organization at the e-mail address provided.

http://regions.adl.org/pacific-northwest

UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM CONTACT
For more information or corrections to this information, please e-mail Peter Fredlake at education@ushmm.org