California school officials said an assignment asking students to write an essay on whether they believe the Holocaust really happened was "horribly inappropriate".
The Rialto Unified School District made headlines when it gave eighth-graders the assignment to do some research and write an essay explaining whether they believed the Holocaust was a real historical event or a political scheme to influence public emotion and gain. It was developed in December by a group of language arts teachers planning a unit on 'The Diary of Anne Frank'.
The assignment drew the immediate condemnation of Jewish groups, tolerance organizations and community leaders.
The district had already withdrawn the assignment and called it an error. After public comments, the board conferred behind closed doors. When members emerged more than an hour later, board President Joanne Gilbert read a prepared statement: "The board and staff are deeply sorry for the hurt and propagation of misinformation caused by this assignment. There was no intent to be hurtful, but due to a lack of critical thought and a lack of internal checks and balances, this project commenced and turned into a horribly inappropriate assignment."
Eighth-grade teachers would undergo sensitivity training at the Los Angeles Museum of Tolerance, Gilbert said. The museum, according to its website, "is dedicated to challenging visitors to understand the Holocaust in both historic and contemporary contexts and confront all forms of prejudice and discrimination in our world today."
