Comptroller Stringer and Assemblymember Rozic Call on the State and City to Expand Holocaust Education and Hate Crime Awareness and Prevention in New York Schools

(New York, NY) — Today, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and New York State Assemblymember Nily Rozic called on the State and City to expand Holocaust education and hate crime awareness and prevention in middle and high schools to combat discrimination and religious intolerance. Comptroller Stringer and Assemblymember Rozic proposed surveying school compliance with Holocaust education; providing outreach and additional resources for coursework, instruction, and curriculum; improving teacher training; and increasing news literacy to help students identify misinformation.

“The egregious display of anti-Semitism during the attack on our nation’s Capitol and uptick in hate crimes around our city are a wake-up call that we must re-commit to educating our young people on the dangers of prejudice and bigotry,” said Comptroller Stringer. “Schools are an important gateway for teaching civic values, and it is our duty to develop citizens who will stand up against discrimination and promote inclusion and acceptance. It starts in the classroom. That’s why the City should provide more outreach, resources, and training to make sure schools are equipped to effectively teach about the Holocaust, bias, and hate crimes. We cannot delay any longer to improve Holocaust education in our schools – our current students, future generations, and our society depends on it.”

“As we experience historic levels of anti-Semitism in New York and around the country, Never Again needs to be a call to action and not merely a platitude offered on Holocaust Remembrance Day,” said Assemblywoman Rozic. “When study after study delineate embarrassing ignorance and misinformation about the Holocaust, we need to rectify the issue at the source – educational requirements. Ensuring that the Holocaust is properly taught in schools coupled with education on recognizing anti-Semitism and other hate crimes is a crucial first step in stopping dangerous conspiracy theories.”

To strengthen and expand Holocaust education, Comptroller Stringer and Assemblymember Rozic called for:

1. The New York State Education Department and the New York City Department of Education to survey all middle and high schools’ compliance with teaching Holocaust education in grades 8, 10, and 11, as called for in Assemblymember Rozic’s legislation, Assembly Bill A472.
2. Outreach and additional resources for schools concerning course work, instruction, and curriculum related to the Holocaust.
3. Teacher training to better equip educators to effectively teach about the Holocaust, hate, and discrimination.
4. Increased news literacy for all students to help them identify misinformation, including dangerous misinformation about the Holocaust.

###