Legislation Document

WHEREAS, genocide is the deliberate and systematic extermination, in whole or in part, of a specific national, religious, political, ethnic, or racial group; and

WHEREAS, there is undisputed evidence that the Holocaust did in fact take place, in the twentieth century, from 1939-1945; and

WHEREAS, the Holocaust serves as the premier frame of reference and springboard from which to teach the lessons to be learned from the ultimate consequences of hatred, discrimination, and indifference; and

WHEREAS, more than 12 million civilians were killed from 1939-1945 of which 6 million were members of the Jewish faith, including 1 million innocent Jewish children who were systematically singled out and earmarked for genocide by the Nazi regime and its collaborators; and

WHEREAS, the voices of the eyewitnesses to the events of the Holocaust are rapidly fading into history; and

WHEREAS, because countless individuals in our society continue to promote various forms of hatred, bigotry, and xenophobia towards select groups, we are obligated to be unyielding in our attempt to raise awareness about the causes, symptoms, and cures of genocide and to allay the voices of those who deny history, so that future generations will not remain silent when confronted with malevolence; and

WHEREAS, we, as civilized members of society, must recognize the devastation caused by acts of genocide to safeguard future generations from repeating these acts of brutality; and

WHEREAS, genocide has been perpetrated against select groups throughout history, including Native Americans, Armenians, Ukrainians, Cambodians, Africans, the Irish, and Rohingya Muslims; and

WHEREAS, teaching the lessons learned from the Holocaust and other genocides helps cultivate the spirit of human resilience, courage, heroism, and tolerance; and

WHEREAS, Holocaust and genocide education provides a context to learn about the danger that befalls us when hatred goes unchallenged and there is indifference in the face of oppression of others; and

WHEREAS, the Halina Wind Preston Holocaust Education Committee provides guidance, academic content assistance, resources, and curricula development to deliver quality Holocaust and genocide education; and

WHEREAS, 4 Holocaust education grants of up to $2,000 will be offered to teachers in Delaware public and private schools for each school year beginning in school year 2019-2020 and each of the 3 consecutive school years thereafter, through the Arnold D. Kerr Holocaust Education Endowment Fund, to teachers who propose Holocaust education programs and activities.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 150th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, that education about the Holocaust and genocide is important for students in the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State of Delaware encourages teachers to include instruction on the Holocaust and genocide in their classrooms.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State of Delaware encourages teachers in this State to apply for Holocaust education grants to assist with the preparation of Holocaust education programs and activities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives send suitable copies of this resolution to the Department of Education, local school districts, and charter schools so that they may be apprised of the sense of the House of Representatives in this matter.