Holocaust Education

A recent survey of more than 11,000 Americans ages 18-39 (from all 50 states) reported that: 

 

• 63% of the respondents were not aware that six million Jews had been killed, with 36 percent believing two million or fewer had been murdered.

• 48% of the respondents could not name a single concentration camp or ghetto where Jews were taken during the Holocaust, though there were 40,000 of them.

• 11% believed Jews caused the Holocaust and blamed them for it.

• 12% don’t think they’ve heard the word “Holocaust” before.

• 10% think the Holocaust did not happen, or are not sure.

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For more information on this survey, please read:

 https://www.pewforum.org/2020/01/22/what-americans-know-about-the-holocaust/  

 https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lincolnwood/ct-lwr-holocaust-survey-tl-1001-20200929-264sol6wgndovbzir2wi55z5rm-story.html

 

Part of the reason for the lack of knowledge about the Holocaust is that only 18 states (it will be 19 in 2022) require that the Holocaust be taught as part of history curricula.  

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Here are the 18 states that do require Holocaust education:

Arizona, Arkansas (in 2022), California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

 

At Transports to Truth, we believe strongly in the importance of age appropriate, accurate and truthful teaching of the Holocaust to all students.  Education is the only answer to ignorance and distortions of historical facts.