Senate backs bill championed by Sen. Luchini to teach genocide and Holocaust studies in Maine schools
AUGUSTA — On Wednesday, the Maine Senate voted in favor of a measure championed by Sen. Louie Luchini, D-Ellsworth, to include genocide and Holocaust studies in Maine public school curricula. The measure is included in a bill from Assistant House Majority Leader Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, that also would incorporate African American studies into Maine’s statewide learning standards. LD 1644 received unanimous, bipartisan support in the Senate.
“The idea behind this measure was brought to me by Ellsworth High School students. Their advocacy on making sure their generation, and future generations, learns about the Holocaust has been inspiring,” said Sen. Luchini. “It’s vital that Maine students learn about the Holocaust and other acts of genocide, so that as they grow, they can know what to do to prevent tragedies like this from happening again.”
As amended, LD 1664 would add the study of African American history and culture and the study of genocide, including the Holocaust, to the Maine Department of Education’s required units of instruction. It would also direct the department to convene a committee that would gather relevant materials and create tools for educators to carry out the new requirements.
“By providing curricular support and direction for teaching African American history and culture, we will give educators the means to share a more thorough, honest view of our heritage in order to better inform our shared future,” said Rep. Talbot Ross. “Maine children can go through their entire educational experience – kindergarten through college – in our public schools today with little exposure to this history. Its absence is not only detrimental to African American students but to all of us. This measure brings forth efforts made by generations of Maine’s African American community to have their experiences taught as part of our state’s history.”
The bill faces further votes in the House and Senate.
