By Daniel Stefanski |

Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction is holding the state’s schools accountable for educating students about the Holocaust.

Last week, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced that he requested “all Arizona district and charter schools report their compliance with state law that requires students to be taught about the Holocaust and other genocides.”

In a statement that accompanied his news release, Horne said, “During the past three months we have learned all-too-well how many people are ignorant about the realities of the Holocaust and other genocides of history. We have heard about pro-Hamas and anti-American propaganda being spread in a high school student club, students being intimidated because of their ethnicity, and we have seen pro-Hamas protests on college campuses.”

The Republican superintendent expressed his gratitude for the law granting his office the ability to hold schools accountable for the statutory teaching of this educational material. He added, “Expressions of hatred like this are unacceptable in an educational setting and a powerful way to combat this scourge is with learning. Students would not be vulnerable to antisemitic propaganda if they had received proper Holocaust instruction. I’m grateful state law exists to require instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides, and it is important to ensure that districts and charter schools are in compliance.”

The law that the state’s schools chief referenced was HB 2241, which was passed by the Arizona Legislature and signed into law by then-Governor Doug Ducey. The bill was sponsored by Alma Hernandez, a Democrat. It passed both chambers with almost unanimous support. Ducey, in his letter to then-Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, informed her that he was signing the legislation to “ensure that we continue to teach our students the history of past atrocities, which in return will instill greater compassion, critical thinking, societal awareness, and educational growth in our students.”

Horne’s deadline for Arizona schools to report to the state Department of Education is January 24. He informed schools that his department “provides resources, training, and support for educators in meeting House Bill 2241.”

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.