HARTFORD – Members of the West Hartford legislative delegation urged their colleagues to support Senate Bill 452, which seeks to require Holocaust and genocide education awareness to be included in the social studies curriculum for public schools.

The legislation was introduced by the legislature’s Education Committee, headed by House chairman state Rep. Andy Fleischmann, D-West Hartford, and vice chairwoman state Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford.

The committee held a public hearing on the proposal Wednesday, March 14, during which state Rep. Derek Slap, D-West Hartford, and students from Avon High School voiced the importance of including Holocaust and genocide awareness education in the social studies curriculum.

“We must never forget the victims of the Holocaust and genocide and we must make sure past is not prologue. We must stand up to violence and intolerance – whenever and wherever it happens,” Slap said. “Teaching our students about the Holocaust and genocide is critical. They must understand what societies are capable of. Awareness and education will help prevent atrocities in the future and help honor the victims of the past.”

“I think that it is very important for everyone in high school to learn about the Holocaust and other genocides because they illuminate the fact that hate crimes and intolerance can be targeted toward any group, that no one is immune, and that nobody should be treated differently because of his or her race, ethnicity, religion or belief,” said Julia Shufro, a senior at Avon High School.

Zoe Quinones, a junior at Avon High School, agreed.

“Students need to learn empathy,” she said. “They need to understand that we have to remain vigilant, and we cannot allow genocides to pass without our knowledge. We cannot allow the victims to fade into history, or become part of another statistic. … if students are given the chance to study this aspect of human nature, they may begin to understand what it takes to prevent such events from occurring again.”

CAP: State Rep. Derek Slap offered testimony in support of Senate Bill 452 Wednesday. Slap was joined by Avon High School students Julia Shufro, Zoe Quinones and Anna Szekeres.