Michigan classrooms will soon be required to teach some of the darkest chapters in human history. The state's Senate has recently approved the genocide education bill that mandates Michigan high school students to learn about the Holocaust and Armenian massacre.
The Holocaust And Armenian Genocide Education Bill
Fox 2 reports that the Michigan Senate has approved the House Bill 4493, also referred by most as the Holocaust and Armenian genocide education bill. The proposed legislation, which was authored by Republican Rep. Klint Kesto, would require grade 8-12 students from Michigan public high schools to learn about the Holocaust and the 1915 Armenian massacre.
House Bill 4493 would also require Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to create a genocide education panel composed of 15 members. Although the Michigan House has already approved it once, the Holocaust and Armenian genocide education bill will now go back to that chamber for consideration before proceeding to Snyder's desk for approval.
The Relevance Of The Holocaust And Armenian Genocide Education Bill
Considered as two of the darkest chapters in human history, according to the Education Week, the Holocaust involved death of six million Jews during the World War II while the Armenian genocide claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians during the World War I. House Bill 4493 has been strongly opposed by some people of Turkish descent who claimed that the deaths in 1915 did not constitute genocide and that the death toll has been sensationalized.
Deadline Detroit reports that there were over 50,000 Armenians who are currently residing in Michigan. House Bill 4493 has received an overwhelming support from the Armenian community who believed that Michigan high school students should have full understanding of the darkest chapters in human history.
"Our students are taught both World War I and II, these should include two of the most heinous events in world history: the Armenian genocide and the Jewish Holocaust," said Ara Topouzian, a member of the Armenian community in Michigan. "By studying the Armenian genocide and the Jewish Holocaust, Michigan students will understand the world and the people around them," he stated.
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