Bill mandating Holocaust, genocide instruction advances in R.I. Senate

The lead sponsor of the bill is Sen. Gayle L. Goldin (D-Providence) who said: “When we look at what’s going on globally, the impact of war and strife, it’s important to place them in a larger historical context, so our children understand the long-term impact of genocides and the Holocaust, so we don’t repeat that history.”

Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket, North Providence) said her district was recently hit by anti-Semitism: a spray-painted swastika was found outside an Orthodox synagogue in Pawtucket.

“There is no room for that kind of hatred in our communities,” Nesselbush said before the vote, “and we will do everything, in addition to this bill, to root it out of our communities.”

In addition, the full Senate last week approved a bill that directs school superintendents to annually review data on discipline to determine if a disproportionate number of students, based on their color, ethnicity or disability, are being punished.

The bill states: “Each student, staff member, teacher, and administrator has a right to attend and/or work at a school which is safe and secure, and which is conducive to learning, and which is free from the threat, actual or implied, of physical harm by a disruptive student.”

Administrators are to report the findings, if there are any to share, and correct the unequal actions if any are found.