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Task Force on Holocaust Education

Mission

The mission of the Commissioner's Task Force on Holocaust Education is to assist school district professionals and support staff in preparation for teaching the history of the Holocaust which will lead to:
  • An investigation of human behavior
  • An understanding of the ramifications of prejudice, racism, and stereotyping
  • An examination of what it means to be a responsible and respectful person for the purposes of encouraging tolerance of diversity in a pluralistic society and for nurturing and protecting democratic values and institutions by offering intensive training programs, curriculum materials, resources, and sustained support.

History of Task Force

In 1994, a Holocaust Bill was passed in the state of Florida, which mandated the teaching of Holocaust instruction in grades K - 12. The Commissioner of Education created a Task Force on Holocaust Education and appointed members to serve on the Commission. The Task Force serves as an advisory group to the Commissioner of Education and coordinates Holocaust education activities on his behalf. In addition, an ad hoc committee for educators has been developed to discuss the implementation of the mandate.

Annual Meeting

An annual meeting of the Task Force takes place in the fall of each year with appointed members of the Task Force as well as members of the ad hoc committees. The meeting provides an opportunity for planning, assessment, and evaluation.

Task Force Sites

There are now eight sites situated throughout the state:
  • Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg
  • Florida State University – Center for Professional Development in Tallahassee
  • Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in Hollywood
  • Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida in Maitland
  • Holocaust Outreach Center of Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton
  • The University of Florida
  • The University of Miami
  • The Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida

These Sites play a major role in ensuring the effective implementation of Florida Statute 1003.42 by providing support and service in the following service areas identified in the Task Force mission statement.

Intensive Training Programs

  • The Designated Sites offer numerous pre-service and in-service opportunities designed to support and enhance the curriculum materials and resources provided by the Sites.
  • In addition, the Sites participate in a Department of Education program called the Holocaust Education Summer Teacher Institutes.
  • These week-long intensive training institutes on Holocaust education are held at the six Task Force Sites throughout the state.
  • Florida teachers have the opportunity to explore and investigate the implications and ramifications of the study of the Holocaust as well as to meet survivors, liberators, rescuers, scholars, and historians.

Curriculum and Resources

  • The Designated Sites work cooperatively with one other to exchange, distribute, and support the use of framework and of resource materials developed by the Task Force.
  • Each Site cooperates with other Sites to ensure that all curricula meet the state’s standards of accuracy and efficiency.
  • These resources help to ensure that students throughout Florida’s education system are made aware of the history of the Holocaust and are caused to reflect on human behavior in today’s world.

Task Force Developed Resource Manuals

All manuals are distributed on CD-ROM and are available online as part of the Content Area Resources or by clicking on the links below.
  1. State of Florida Manual on Holocaust Education, Grades K - 3 (PDF)
    • The State of Florida Manual on Holocaust Education, Grades K-3, has been developed, produced in hard copy as well as on CD-ROM, and distributed to 4,000 public, private, and parochial schools in Florida. The manual focuses on character education, laying the foundation for the study of the Holocaust in higher grades.
  2. State of Florida Resource Manual on Holocaust Education, Grades 4-6 (PDF)
    • The resource manual for Grades 4 - 6 is complete and a CD-ROM has been distributed.
  3. State of Florida Resource Manual on Holocaust Education, Grades 7-8 (PDF)
    • The resource manual for grades 7 - 8 is complete and will be distributed Fall 2004.
  4. State of Florida Resource Manual on Holocaust Education, Grades 9 - 12 (PDF)
    • The State of Florida Resource Manual on Holocaust Education, Grades 9-12 has been distributed to every public, private, and parochial high school in Florida. The 940-page manual has been reproduced on CD-ROM and was distributed to the high schools during the 2000 - 2001 school year.