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SILVERTONAPPEAL.COM ܂ WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2018 ܂ 3A Bill would require Oregon schools to teach about the Holocaust Natalie Pate Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK A Holocaust survivor and an Oregon student are calling on state lawmakers to require Oregon schools teach about the Holocaust, something not currently mandated. If passed in next year’s legislative session, the Genocide Curriculum bill would require all Oregon high schools — public and private — to teach about the Holocaust and other genocides in world history. It would be part of the state’s graduation requirement for three years of social studies. The idea was presented to the Senate Interim Committee on Education in an informational meeting Sept. 25 in front of a packed hearing room at the state Capitol. The effort is being led by Sen. Rob Wagner, D-Tualitin, Holocaust survivor Alter Wiener, 92, and Lake Oswego high school freshman Claire Sarnowski, 14. The three said they want the legisla- tion to be broad enough that educators can incorporate genocide curriculum into their existing coursework, but that some schools aren’t getting any right now. Wagner cited a poll, saying one-fifth of high school graduates across the country can’t identify the Holocaust — in which millions of people, mostly Jews, were detained, tortured and killed. The bill would be in keeping with a resolution passed by the United Nations in 2005. The Holocaust Remembrance resolution calls on all nations to com- memorate the memory of the Holocaust annually on Jan. 27. The resolution also urges countries to develop educational programs about the Holocaust to help prevent future acts of genocide. Currently, 10 states in the United States have similar mandates to the pro- posed legislation in Oregon, Wiener said, listing California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. ‘Horrific memories from the Holocaust are still fresh’ Sarnowski’s passion for Holocaust People line up to enter the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. ALEX BRANDON/AP education began when she was in fourth grade and first heard Wiener speak at Crossler Middle School in Salem. The experience made a lasting im- pact on her and hundreds of her peers, many of whom wrote letters about how Wiener’s story inspired them. Wiener’s father was murdered by German invaders of Poland when he was 13 years old, Wiener said. At 15, Wiener was taken to a Nazi concentra- tion camp in Germany. He recalled being tortured and starved; he was never re- united with his family. “Horrific memories from the Holo- caust are still fresh ... I’m still in pain,” Wiener said to the committee. “Not all physical and mental scars can be healed with passing years.” Wiener shares his story with schools, prisons and other populations across Oregon and Washington. Since his first presentation in 2000, he’s presented more than 980 times and received near- ly 88,000 letters of appreciation. Wiener said after reading those let- ters and hearing the support from stu- dents, he felt more obligated to share his story. Sarnowski is an example of that. “I recall thinking to myself (during his presentation), ‘How could such a wonderful man exhibit so much kind- ness after going through the horrors he had to endure?’ “ Sarnowski said. Sarnowski has become a close family friend of Wiener’s and, since first seeing him in fourth grade, has seen him speak more than 15 times. “Although not every student has had this opportunity to hear a Holocaust survivor’s story, or watch documenta- ries or movies in which genocide (is) portrayed, the impactful knowledge stems from the conversation,” Sarnow- ski said. “As a student, I see bullying, preju- dice and stereotyping both inside and outside the classroom every day,” she said. “Learning about genocide teaches students the ramifications that come with prejudice of any kind in society.” Pursuing legislation Sarnowski brought this issue to light after seeing anti-semitic drawings and racial discrimination around her school two years ago. She spoke with Lake Os- wego School Board chair, Bob Barman, who recommended she also speak with fellow board member and senator, Wag- Recyling Continued from Page 1A bags, used napkins, shredded paper and, in one case, a large suitcase. Only two carts on the street of a doz- en or so homes met the new recycling guidelines. Many violators claim someone else put the banned items in their cart, Kuenzi said. While that’s possible, he said, “Deni- al is a human trait. There can’t be that many people going around putting stuff in other people’s roll carts.” Others say they are still confused about what can go in the bin, and what can’t. In response, most of the haulers have posted detailed information on their websites, Hines said. The association also has hired a recycling coordinator to speak at neighborhood groups and clubs, and go out to talk with residents in their homes. Drivers carry lists of previous viola- tors and will get out of their trucks to Art Kuenzi, owner of Suburban Garbage, and Kevin Hines, general manager of the Mid-Valley Garbage and Recycling Association, show improper recycling on Monday in northeast Salem. MICHAELA ROMÁN/STATESMAN JOURNAL give bins’ contents closer scrutiny. They also can watch on an in-cab monitor as a video camera records the contents be- ing dumped in the truck. That’s led some residents to com- plain that their privacy is being violated. ner. “As my dear friend, Alter Wiener, once said, ‘There are two ways to fight the cold — put on a fur coat to be warm or light a fire so that others can be warm too,’ “ Sarnowski said to the committee, pausing after to wipe away tears and catch her breath. If passed, this bill wouldn’t be the first time culturally-specific curriculum was passed by Oregon lawmakers. For example, lawmakers passed Sen- ate Bill 13 in 2017, which requires the Oregon Department of Education to de- velop curriculum exploring the Native American experience and provide pro- fessional development to teachers and administrators relating to the curricu- lum. “Learning about the Holocaust is not just a chapter in recent history,” Wiener said, “but a derived lesson how to be more tolerant, more loving and that ha- tred is, eventually, self-destructive. “Remember, be better, rather than bitter.” Contact reporter Natalie Pate at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503- 399-6745 or follow her on Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at www. Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist. “We’re telling people we’re responsi- ble for monitoring what we take to the processor,” Kuenzi said. At Suburban Garbage, about 300 customers have traded in smaller gar- bage cans for larger ones since recycling was restricted, Kuenzi said. Several also have canceled their recycling, even though there is no fee for picking up res- idential recycling. Hines said he doesn’t know how many fines are being issued across the county. But on one of Suburban’s recent routes of 600 residents, 30 were fined, or about 5 percent, Kuenzi said. That’s no windfall for the haulers, Hines said. Routes have been slowed as drivers more carefully monitor carts and issue warnings and fines, he said. And office staff are overwhelmed responding to complaints and helping educate cus- tomers. 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