Open Letter to Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction

Dear Superintendent Tom Horne,

I write to you as an advocate for a community deeply invested in the education and well-being of all children, specifically Black children. I submit this open letter to express my deep concern and disappointment regarding your decision to mandate teaching of the Jewish Holocaust in Arizona school districts. I acknowledge and respect the importance of teaching about the Holocaust in schools - an historical event that serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of hatred and intolerance - but find it deeply concerning that while the Holocaust is rightfully included in curriculum, the history of Black people in America - particularly the atrocities of slavery - is not.

It is disheartening to see that the teaching of the Jewish Holocaust is being prioritized while the history of Black people in America is being sidelined. As an educational leader, it is crucial to recognize the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive curriculum that accurately reflects the diverse experiences and struggles of different communities. Our history, like that of the Jewish people during the Holocaust, is marked by unspeakable atrocities and profound suffering. The legacy of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism has had a lasting impact on the Black community, shaping our experiences and identities in fundamental ways. It is crucial that all children learn about this aspect of American history, not only to understand the context of their own heritage but also to foster a more inclusive and empathetic society.

By essentially criminalizing teachers for providing students with a thorough understanding of Black history, you are effectively suppressing an essential part of American heritage and perpetuating systemic inequality. By mandating the teaching and proof of teaching the Jewish Holocaust but denying the right to address the American Slave Trade, you are intentionally creating contradiction in your actions, division amongst district stakeholders, and discrimination in Arizona’s public schools due to forced ignorance.

I urge you to reconsider this approach and to ensure that the state, national and global history curriculum in our schools is inclusive and reflective of the diverse experiences that shaped us. Our children deserve an education that acknowledges and learns from all aspects of our past, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. It is only through a comprehensive understanding of history that we can hope to move forward as a society that values and respects the dignity and contributions of all its members.

I am open to engaging in a constructive dialogue with you to address these concerns and work towards a more safe, supportive and equitable educational system for Arizona's families.

Respectfully submitted,

Shannon S. Hayes | Education Equity Advocate