North Dakota Legislative Committee Hosts Second Reading On Mandatory Learning of The Holocaust

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — A North Dakota senate committee hosted a second reading on requiring mandatory learning of the Holocaust in public schools.

Schools in North Dakota currently leave it up to a teacher’s discretion whether the Holocaust will be taught.

The bill requires the superintendent of public instruction to submit an annual report to the governor and legislative management detailing the implementation of Holocaust education.

But opposing views on the bill believe there may be antisemitism within the teaching.

As the growth of antisemitism has risen in the past few years, the concern lies with how students may be treated.

“The further we get from the Holocaust, the easier it will be to forget the stories especially when there aren’t any survivors left to tell them. Teachers can be the ones to keep these stories alive,” said Rep. Roger A. Maki, Watford City.

The senate education committee took no action on the bill and will resume work in the morning.