Holocaust Education Mandate (Correspondence)

From: Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D. [mailto:rsklaroff@gmail.
com]
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2014 3:50 PM
To: 'Stephen Miskin'; 'David Transue'
Cc: 'Rhonda Fink-Whitman'; 'rboop@pasen.gov'; 'Brendan Boyle'; 'Himebaugh, Nicholas A.'; 'John
Rafferty'; 'Candice Wynn'; 'Cawley, Jim'; 'jimfcawley@gmail.com'; 'mikefolmer@pasen.gov';
'mfolmer@pasen.gov'
Subject: RE: Genocide/Curriculum - A Proposal
Importance: High

Might you please rescind/revise the faulty input that was provided BOTH to the House Education
Committee and to the Senate???

From: Stephen Miskin [mailto:SMiskin@pahousegop.com]
To: Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.; David Transue
Cc: 'Rhonda Fink-Whitman'; gardened@comcast.net; rboop@pasen.gov; 'Brendan Boyle'; 'Himebaugh,
Nicholas A.'; John Rafferty; Candice Wynn; 'Cawley, Jim'; jimfcawley@gmail.com;
mikefolmer@pasen.gov; mfolmer@pasen.gov

Dr. Sklaroff, thank you for your continued interest in the Holocaust Education bill awaiting
Senate action. The House won't be able to take any action until the Senate votes on the bill.

The bill is in the Senate's purview right now. Thank you.

- Steve Miskin

-------- Original message --------
From: "Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D."
Date:04/08/2014 3:27 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: David Transue
Cc: 'Rhonda Fink-Whitman' ,gardened@comcast.net,rboop@pasen.gov,'Brendan Boyle'
,"'Himebaugh, Nicholas A.'" ,John Rafferty ,Stephen Miskin ,Candice Wynn ,"'Cawley, Jim'"
,jimfcawley@gmail.com,mikefolmer@pasen.gov,mfolmer@pasen.gov

David, Ms. Wynn confirmed that you were the author of the faulty staff-memo that claimed
INCORRECTLY that the current statute covers the unit [genocide, holocaust, and human rights violations]
in a cursory fashion; if this legislation is to be signed-off on 4/29/2014 [International Holocaust
Remembrance Day], you are going to have to get-off-the-dime [even if you wish not to call-me-back,
despite my daily calls/e-mails during the past week].

I have exhaustively/repeatedly documented otherwise, namely, that the topic-listing omits some topics
and places others under disparate subjects in a fragmentary fashion; remember, I care not about
whether the DoE composes an optional curriculum, or whether a survey is performed in 16, or anything
else that obfuscates the core-issue [which, oh by-the-way, has NOT been subject to a compromise as
had been whispered into the ear of a Senator-colleague by Andy Dinniman].

My suspicion is that Mr. Hank Butler assisted you, for he has also been responsible for FALSELY
claiming that the suggestion we have been pushing (mandatory holocaust education) would create an
unfunded mandate, then claiming what we wish is precedent-setting, then claiming our effort would
unleash a torrent of personalized-amendments, then claiming the DoE had to compose a curriculum,
then claiming our effort would create some sort of an onerous amendment, then[I believe he has
exhausted his roadblocks].

Now, however, you own both this seminal-memo [upon which the members have predicated their
postures, most prominently Rep. Clymer] and its offspring [the suggested amendment submitted to
the Senate, which has no names appended, but which is gumming-up-the-works becauseout of
courtesythe Senate doesnt want to pass something that House leadership appears to oppose, even if
150+ members would immediately support it].

I do not know how to help you identify an exit-ramp, other than to request that you find a way
to RESCIND [after further study?] what appeared on
Sen. Raffertys ipad, three months agoASAP!

From: Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D. [mailto:rsklaroff@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2014 10:01 PM
To: 'David Transue'; 'Stephen Miskin'
Cc: 'Rhonda Fink-Whitman'; 'gardened@comcast.net'; 'rboop@pasen.gov'; 'Brendan Boyle'; 'Himebaugh,
Nicholas A.'; 'jrafferty@pasen.gov'

Greetings, again; Im going to be @ PLC tomorrow, but I could delay arrival if it would be desirable to
meet in Harrisburg before I go to Camp Hill.

Ill call @ 9 a.m. to gauge your whereabouts; another possibility, of course, is to intersect if you will be
@ the event; Im going to depart Sat. after lunch.

My legislative goal, actually, is simply to double-back to my original thought, and that is to modify the
mandated curriculum-topics to accommodate this unit.

The rest would fall naturally into place without the need for hoopla, although friendly-amendments
to add other topics/curricula would not present a problem.

[BTW, as requested, I asked Nick to ask Brendon to do something to undo the unnecessary Thatcher-
Critique that was delivered on the very day she was planted.]

Subject: Genocide/Curriculum - A Proposal
Importance: High

Greetings!

As promised, I spoke with my people after having circulated this summary-memo [appended and
reprinted infra], referencing ALL key-concerns unearthed.

There is general agreement that there would be no problem with the PDE composing a model-
curriculum, just as long as its local use would remain optional.

There is also general agreement that there would be no problem with the PDE conducting
educational studies in two years to accrue data assessing retention.

Yet, we feel strongly that there is NO DOUBT the current topic-listings [both in the statute and in the
DOEs portal, which are identical] are grossly-inadequate.

The key-word topics are not encompassed, even in a cursory fashion [recalling the fatally-
flawed staff-memo to the House Education Committee].

The key-words that are extant are buried, yielding a fragmented presentation of sub-topics
ABSENT a cohesive, focused study of this trenchant concern.

Thus, we would want the statute to be REFINED incrementallyinvoking an approach which Id first
articulated within 48-hours of first learning of this issue in November.

Specifically, for grades 4
th
6
th
10
th
12
th
, age-sensitive study must be provided on the topic of
Holocuast, Genocide, and Human Rights Violations.

We concur that it would be ideal were Governor Corbett to sign the appropriate legislation on
International Holocaust Day [4/28/2014].

I am aware that some perceive a Chinese Wall to exist between the two chambers, but your having
remitted the discretionary amendment to Sen. Rafferty is PIVOTAL.

Whether intended or not, this is viewed as evidence of ongoing House-level opposition [among
leadership] to a Mandate, a logjam that can be broken.

Therefore, my goal is to convince you to modify this document and remit a revision via the
identical pathway you previously had employed.

I dont carry any proxy, but I daresay Sen. Rafferty would be PLEASED to be told that the House would
overwhelmingly support a Mandateand the caucus would act accordingly.

Frankly, some of my colleagues have initiated efforts to recruit support from the school-boards
and the school-teachers, but this can be passed solely by the GOP.

Indeed, it shouldnt be partisan, and one could easily anticipate House-passage [after senate-
passage], recalling the 99-99 vote on Rep. Boyles Amendment.

Ill call you later-on today to discern if I have missed ANYTHING crucial in this succinct summary of the
salient features of this [should-never-have-arisen] controversy.

Thank you for your time!

Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2014 12:24 AM
Subject: Genocide/Curriculum - A Proposal

I reformulated the database, yielding my proposal [common ground of Amended-Senate and Original-
House versions], in the attachment.
[Just place me into a padded-cell with Mr. Hank Butler for two minutes and you will necessarily witness
conflict-resolution.]
This constitutes a free-standing summary [a Friday info-dump if you will] of everything anyone
articulated.
[Of course, please-advise ASAP if anything was omitted, and it will be promptly circulated.]
Will call on Tuesday-a.m. for feedback [from either/both of you].

Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Medical Oncology/Hematology Telephone: (215) 333-4900
Facsimile: (215) 333-2023
Smylie Times Building - Suite #500-C
8001 Roosevelt Boulevard rsklaroff@gmail.com
Philadelphia, PA 19152 http://www.doctor-bob.biz/rsklaroff

March 28, 2014

Holocaust Education Mandate
[analysis/synthesis/proposal]

Executive Summary: I propose that the House concur with the view that its submission to the
Senate be modified to account for glitches therein; the current subject-listing must be revised by
adding a Holocaust/Genocide/Human Rights Violation unit [to be employed in an age-sensitive
fashion in 4
th
, 6
th
, 10
th
, and 12
th
grades]. The topic, therefore, must be Mandated, with the DoE
providing optional curriculum consistent with Keystone Exams. And data-collection should be
planned to be accrued two academic years after initiation of this program, to determine what
constitutes the optimal program [or components thereof].

Provided in this memo is both an synthesis of the logic leading to the above proposal, based upon
all available data [pp. 1-4], and an analysis of the database that had been accrued during the past four
months [pp. 5-17]. All arguments promulgated by both sides have been articulated in a
disinterested fashion, during which time the Mandatory lingo has evolved.

*

House Bill 1424 PN 2766 - Re-Reported as Amended, the key-legislation, has provoked strife within
the Jewish Community, yielding uncertainty within the legislative realm; I have debunked claims of
Mr. Hank Butler [representing the PA Jewish Coalition (of myriad local Federations)] that this
Mandate [1]would constitute an unfunded-mandate, and/or [2]would establish precedent
were it to be adopted as a subject-mandate. Thus, opposition has morphed into a claim that this
Mandate [1]would constitute a burdensome mandate, and/or [2]would trigger submission of
a spate of provincial educational mandates. Here, respectively, a subject mandate would be
perceivable as less burdensome than submission of a curriculum mandateone would think
although this is what House leaders like; also, advocates for the Holocaust/Genocide/Human
Rights Violation Mandate would view the threat of amendments favorably, for they either would
already have been subsumed by the overall topic or would easily be added to the aggregate-unit,
strengthening its impact.

Therefore, I have proposed that the Amendment-submission by the House Majority
Caucus Leadership be itself amended. The proposal [which has not been submitted
by any Senator] would call for the DoE to compose a cogent curriculum, predicated
on the concept that it has license to perform this task when the topic is to be
included in the Keystone Examinations; it would then call for a study to be
conducted in two years, through which data could be collected [for the first time]
regarding whether use of this curriculum worked.

It should be noted that Mr. Butler no longer represents one subset
entity, namely, the Jewish Federation; it flipped and now supports
the Mandate, while Pittsburgh apparently is still constituting the
major support for portraying Jewish interests statewide as opposing
the Mandate. Candidly, once I had demonstrated that Mr. Butler had
acted so very deceitfully [e.g., convincing Republicans that the
Mandate imposed the horrid unfunded-mandate upon overburdened
government], efforts were directed towards undoing the harm he had
done to whichever Republicans would identify themselves to me.
This approach led to todays chat with House-GOP Staff, both of
whom appear to have positions of high-respect; David Transue is
Senior Education Advisor to Republican Leadership and Steve
Miskin is Press Secretary to the Republican Leader at PA House of
Representatives.

I would amend it because [1]it would be desirable to maintain the lingo of a
Mandate; and [2]it would be desirable to dispense with performing a study when
its results are intuitive [students who are instructed on this topic are apt to know
more than people who are not instructed on this topic]. Indeed, it would be
preferable to compare the efficacy of a DoE-curriculum with those that may be
chosen from another entity [or even self-composed]. Thus, a Mandate that would
maintain local control over the final-decision would allow for the DoE-authored
effort to compete with other programs.

As per the documents generated during the past four months, I have scrutinized this issue while
harboring the intent to achieve consensus, a perspective shared by Sen. John Rafferty. Quite
candidly, during [1]an introductory chat during a GOP-Event; [2]a phone chat two days hence;
and [3]an hour-long chat [1:1] @ the MontCo GOP-Headquartersthere appeared to be a
meeting-of-the-minds that had culminated in passage of the Mandate-lingo [must supplanting
may] by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Some suggest an initial vote reflected the existence
of dissension, but the final-vote tally was unanimous
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/RCC/PUBLIC/listVoteSummary.cfm?sYear=2013&sInd
=0&chamber=S&cteeCde=3&theDate=12/09/2013&rNbr=651
and, therefore, the bill languishes until it is submitted for a full Senate vote
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/SFN/2013/0/HB1424P2766.pdf
which is not likely to transpire until logjams have been IDed and resolved.

The lobbying-effort has been maximal on an issue that should not be divisive, at-first-blush,
publicly by those supporting the Mandate and quietly by those opposing it. Champions of this
legislation have emerged (at various times) on a bipartisan plane, and political theorists have
conjured myriad explanations for what has transpired and for what should be the goal. Being more
linear than most, I have taken people @ face-value and, candidly have been pleasantly surprised
by the warmth exuded by Sen. Rafferty [R] and Rep. Boyle [D]plus by their staffs; Ive spoken
with others and they should not feel slighted for not having been cited herein, but these
individuals stand-out as having conveyed a feeling that they get it.

Certain roadblocks appear to have been traversed, among them the bug-a-boo of the GOP, the
threat of an unfunded mandate. Noting that the fiscal-note is a one-time $7000, arguments shifted
to whether the 501 local school boards would recoil if told to do this; those representing Phillys
Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center exemplify those who would gladly assist
localities to whatever degree desired [gratis], for they offer services ranging from handouts/movies to
educators/survivors [on-site and in Philly]; exemplifying this capacity is the fact that ~200 students
were at the NE-Philly JCC today [3/28/2014], having arrived by bus-caravan from Reading [for a 10
a.m.-noon program].

A key-concern is that the current statutory mandate [validated by provision of an
identical document from the DoE portal that is exclusively accessed by School
Boards] is, charitably-phrased, a FRAGMENTED amalgam of topics that SHOULD
be taught as a UNIT. Demonstrated, specifically, are: [1]absence of key-words,
[2]inclusion of key-words in-isolation, and [3]placement of key-words within
sub-sub-categories that dangle.

Specifically,

Genocide is buried
Conflict and Cooperation Among Social Groups and Organizations
Domestic Instability (political unrest, natural and man-made
disasters, genocide)
Nazi is REALLY buried
B. Evaluate historical documents,
material artifacts and historic sites
important to world history since 1450.
Documents, Writings and Oral
Traditions (e.g., Declaration of the
International Conference on
Sanctions Against South Africa;
Monroe Doctrine, Communist
Manifesto, Luthers Ninety-five
Theses)
Artifacts, Architecture and
Historic Places (e.g., Robben
Island, New York World Trade
Center, Hiroshima Ground Zero
Memorial, Nazi concentration
camps)
Historic districts (e.g., Timbuktu,
Centre of Mexico City and
Xochimilco, Taj Mahal and
Gardens, Kremlin and Red Square)
World War II appears twice in a generic context, with identical
listings on pages 11 & 14
Military Conflicts (e.g., World
War I, World War II, Persian
Gulf War)
and the other terms [human rights Holocaust Armenia
Cambodia] are not covered.

In my opinion, the current state-of-affairs is dismal, crying for revision.

This is NOT to suggest that any one individual is responsible for this cursory coverage, for it has
probably evolved following a series of revisions; nevertheless, it is what it is, and it clearly is
grossly inadequate. Furthermore, it would not necessitate public hearings to help people appreciate
these conclusions, for they cannot be disputed by any reasonable person.

Candidly, I would not want to have to ask the Dems to work on their pet
lobbying-groups [School Teachers and School Boards] just yet, noting that some
local entities endorsed the mandate; correct or incorrect, Rep. Boyle claims there are
150 positive House votes available for the Mandate were the bill to be released to the
floor. [Some may claim everything he is doing is geared towards the GOP-Primary
for the 13
th
Congressional District but, frankly, from a disinterested viewpoint, its
difficult to detect this dynamic.

In any case, Ive been told that the Senate wont move until its informed that the House would look
with favor upon whatever it would adopt; meanwhile, the House awaits action by the Senate, hoping
a bill can be signed on Holocaust Remembrance Day [4/28/2014], with House leadership
disclaiming any potential to impact whatever the Senate might do. These two messages can be
rectified without damaging the credibility of either party, simply by noting that the House crossed
the Chinese Wall when it provided text to the Senates GOP-Caucus [as shown to me by Sen.
Rafferty, on his tablet] and, thus, the House can again cross the Wall by amending what it had
remitted, along the lines of what the Senate Appropriations Committee has adopted. It can be
provided impetus to do so by concurring with the analysis herein, and then functioning
accordinglyunraveling the Gordian Knot.

What to do?

[1]House Leadership must recognize that the current Statute is grossly inadequate;
Holocaust/Genocide/Human Rights Violation must be taught as a unit, supplanting the
fragmented presentation of some of these topics within headings that are tangential to the profound
lessons all students must learn in their formative years [repeatedly], for the forces that have yielded
these tragedies historically are ever-present in contemporary newscasts.

[2]House Leadership must repudiate, therefore, a cursory coverage of this topic, supplanting it
with a cogent, comprehensive, curriculum that would then be amenable to be included in the
Keystone Examinations; legislation prompting the DoE to compose this coursework should be
promulgated, for OPTIONAL use by the 501 local School Boards.

[3]After said-curriculum has been composed, this unit should be mandated for use in all K-12
School Districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, although each School Board would be
empowered to choose which coursework curriculum to implement in its locality; here, voluntary-
entities could be invited to provide educational-enhancements, being then reimbursed or functioning
gratis as per whatever private arrangements might be adopted.

[4]House Leadership should modify its suggested amendment accordingly, until/unless any
additional impediment might be conjured; indeed, all known amendments [regarding individual
ethnic concerns] should be scrutinized avidly to determine if their adoption as friendly
amendments would yield a superior proposal that could obtain bipartisan support [or whether their
intent would have already been encompassed within the topic-triad].

Database

Executive Summary {My proposed amendment-to-the-amendment the House submitted to the Senate}:
ALL STUDENTS MUST BE INSTRUCTED ON HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS AND THE CURRICULUM USED MAY BE BASED ON STANDARDS PROMULGATED BY THE
DOE IN CONJUNCTION WITH STATUTORY PREPARATION FOR KEYSTONE EXAMINATIONS. An
evaluation of the impact of this legislation is to be conducted two years following the implementation of
its being signed into law [on April 28, 2014, it is hoped].

Regarding the two points that I had distilled from yesterdays conversation with Ryan Boop, Esq.: [1]
I emphasized the ability to add whatever additional topics may be proposed [such as the Irish Potato
Famine], if they are not perceived as having occurred within the context of human rights violations,
and [2]I emphasized the fact that, to whatever degree local school boards might recoil when provided
another topic-mandate, they would probably look askance much more predictably at any imposed
curriculum.

Therefore, [1]I would think there would NOT be an impediment to passage of this bill, even if
additional pet-ideas were added thereto (recalling the 99-99 vote on Brendans Amendment), and [2]
If indeed we are to countenance the generation of PDE-authored curriculum [and you presumably feel
this would pass the House], then I would not disagree [because the School Boards could take-it-or-leave
it, choosing instead to employ what may be provided to them privatelysuch as via Phillys Holocaust
Museum].

DISCLAIMER: These are only MY ideas; they need to be analyzed by Rhonda & Chuckbut you may wish
to run them past your people in the interim; we can then feed-back the outcome to Sen. Rafferty.

*

Allow me to suggest a few take-away points from our highly-productive chat.

The people on the cc list include all you have noted previously, along with two movers/shakers in the
mandatory-camp; Rhonda created the viral-video documenting the need for this effort, and Chuck
heads Phillys Holocaust Museum.

I will now connect-the-dots maximally; if there is even a subtle difference between this e-mail and what
you understand the situation to be, please so-advise.

First, you consistently emphasized the existence of the Chinese Wall between the chambers and, thus,
that you feel you have discharged your duties after having passed a bill in the House and having
submitted the draft-amendment [which John had on his laptop when we met @ MCRC], which is yet to
be formally addressed by the full-Senate.

Second, you feel this amendment is strong because it ensures a quality curriculum will have been
circulated to the 501 PA School Boards.

Third, you feel [as documented infra] that the DOE has license to compose curriculum on a topic that
may be covered by Keystone Exams, and you would now includewithin your Amendmentthis topic
among those that would be explicitly placed into that category.

Fourth, you feel thatalthough this is not an unfunded mandate [Im so glad THAT is clear]local
school boards may recoil when confronted with ANY request from the PDE that may view as a
mandate.

Fifth, I told you I thought it to be absurd to propose a study in two years between those districts that
teach this unit and those that dont; essentially, that study has been done [and it was intuitive that
people who arent instructed are less apt to learn something].

Sixth, I reviewed the attachment, and it really is merely a cut/paste from the statute that Id previously
analyzed, with the topics-of-interest not having been deemed to merit a stand-alone status as a unit
that carries tremendous contemporary manifestations [such as when it is noted that the major global
genocide being promulgated in Muslim-majority countries is against Christians, as I have extensively
documented in my blast e-mails]; Genocide is buried
Nazi is REALLY buried
B. Evaluate historical documents,
material artifacts and historic sites
important to world history since 1450.
Documents, Writings and Oral
Traditions (e.g., Declaration of the
International Conference on
Sanctions Against South Africa;
Monroe Doctrine, Communist
Manifesto, Luthers Ninety-five
Theses)
Artifacts, Architecture and
Historic Places (e.g., Robben
Island, New York World Trade
Center, Hiroshima Ground Zero
Memorial, Nazi concentration
camps)
Historic districts (e.g., Timbuktu,
Centre of Mexico City and
Xochimilco, Taj Mahal and
Gardens, Kremlin and Red
Square)
World War II appears twice in a generic context, with identical listings on pages 11 & 14
Military Conflicts (e.g., World
War I, World War II, Persian
Gulf War)
and the other terms are not covered.

Seventh, [in addition to the fact that the Deity rested following Creation] you maintained a neutral
stance when I proposed a rectification of the process along the following lines

ALL STUDENTS MUST BE INSTRUCTED ON HOLOCAUST, GENOCIDE AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
AND THE CURRICULUM EMPLOYED MAY BE BASED ON STANDARDS PROMULGATED BY THE DOE IN
CONJUNCTION WITH STATUTORY PREPARATION FOR KEYSTONE EXAMINATIONS.

with an evaluation of the efficacy of this legislation to be conducted two years following the
implementation of this legislation [on April 28, 2014, it is hoped].

*

From: David Transue [mailto:Dtransue@pahousegop.com]
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2014 1:41 PM
To: 'Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.'
Cc: Stephen Miskin; David Transue
Subject: Genocide/Curriculum

Doctor

Thanks for a good conversation today on the important subject of Holocaust education. As we
repeatedly stressed, the House passed legislation regarding Holocaust education. The Senate needs to
decide how it wishes to proceed in this matter.

As you requested, attached are the Pennsylvania Core Academic Standards for History contained in
Chapter 4 of the State Board of Education regulations which reference genocide. As we discussed, the
standards are not curriculum but goals for what each public school student should know. You had also
asked for instances in which PDE provides model curriculum for use by school districts if they choose
to utilize the model curriculum. The reference below is direct language in the Chapter 4 regulations
requiring PDE to develop model curriculum aligned to the PA Core Academic Standards.

I hope you find this information helpful. Again, we appreciate all the time, passion and advocacy on
behalf of Holocaust and Genocide education.

Dave Transue
Senior Education Advisor to Republican Leadership
PA House of Representatives
Room 110 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717)260-6507
dtransue@pahousegop.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------
Genocide: Referenced in the Academic Standards for History under the standard statements which
define each standard (page 6 of the attached):

Ethnic and Racial Relations (racism and xenophobia, ethnic and
religious prejudices, collective and individual actions)
Immigration and Migration (causes of population shifts,
xenophobia, intercultural activity)
Labor Relations (strikes and collective bargaining, working
conditions over time, labor/management identity)
Military Conflicts (causes, conduct and impact of military
conflicts, wars and rebellions)

Model Curriculum: Chapter 4 directs PDE to establish model curriculum for the academic standards
assessed by the Keystone Exams
4.4. General policies.

(e) The Department will provide support to school districts, AVTSs and charter schools,
including cyber charter schools, in developing educational programs that enable students to
attain academic standards under 4.12. Department support will include:
(1) Establishment of a voluntary model curriculum and diagnostic supports aligned with State
academic standards in each of the content areas assessed by the Keystone Exams under
4.51b(i) and (j) (relating to Keystone Exams).
(2) Assistance in the development of effective student tutoring, remediation and extended
instructional time programs.
(3) Opportunities for continuing professional education designed to improve instruction in
each of the content areas assessed by the Keystone Exams under 4.51b(i) and (j).
(4) Technical guidance in developing local assessments that meet the requirements of
4.24(c)(1)(iii)(B) (relating to high school graduation requirements), upon request.
(f) The Department may not, and the Board will not, require school entities to utilize a
Statewide curriculum or Statewide reading lists.
The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
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Sent: Friday, March 28, 2014 10:54 AM
To: 'dtransue@pahousegop.com'; 'rboop@pasen.gov'
Cc: 'Brendan Boyle'; 'Himebaugh, Nicholas A.'; 'cwynn@pahousegop.com';
'cmay@pahousegop.com'
Subject: RE: Mandatory Holocaust Education - excerpts from database accrued since mid-
November

Greetings, once more.
Having been apprised of your particular interest in the House Education Committee, I exhumed a
focused analysis of what had transpired last year, as I distilled on the Internet
[http://www.scribd.com/doc/183968218/anti-BHO-
CCXXVI?post_id=1448468906_10202504410678710#_=_]; I know it may be perceived as a bit in the
weeds, but it should be provided [if nothing else] to complete the database:
[C]urrent standards do not comply with the way they were characterized in the staff-notes
prepared by Rep. Clymers Education Committee [The standards include cursory references
to genocide, WWII, and Nazi concentration camps; albeit without clarification.]; word-
searches [deferring WWII because its a bit afield] actually demonstrate that:
Genocide appears once:
Conflict and Cooperation Among Social Groups and
Organizations
Nazi appears once:
B. Evaluate historical documents, material artifacts and historic
sites important to world history since 1450.
Documents, Writings and Oral Traditions (e.g., Declaration of
the International Conference on Sanctions Against South Africa;
Monroe Doctrine, Communist Manifesto, Luthers Ninety-five
Theses)
Artifacts, Architecture and Historic Places (e.g., Robben Island,
New York Trade Center, Hiroshima Ground Zero Memorial, Nazi
concentration camps)
human rights and Holocaust and Armenia and Cambodia do not
appear at all.
*
Also problematic is how the concepts are currently classified, for genocide
should hardly be relegated under the concept of Conflict [noting its deep
roots that transcend the common usage of that term] and Nazi should hardly
be relegated under the concept of Artifacts, Architecture and Historic Places
[noting that this connotes the lack of major contemporary import].

Finally, problematic is the need to specify concerns regarding human rights as
violated during the past century in otherwise under-appreciated fashions
[Armenia, Cambodia], plus others [Ukraine Famine, China/Tibet, etc.]; indeed,
the exercise of exploring these additional CRUCIAL facets of world history
instruction would [one hopes] sensitize the student to detecting
manifestations of such tendencies following graduation.

The reason why I added this analysis to what you have already received is to raise the possibility that, if
Rep. Clymers knowledge-base were to be appropriately updated, his viewpoint could be amended
accordingly; David, you know the players, so I cannot reasonably comment beyond this.

Sent: Friday, March 28, 2014 10:07 AM
Cc: 'Brendan Boyle'; 'Himebaugh, Nicholas A.'; 'cwynn@pahousegop.com';
'cmay@pahousegop.com'
Subject: RE: Mandatory Holocaust Education - excerpts from database accrued since mid-
November

215=333-4900

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/chap4toc.html

I had to repair a hyperlink directly to the statute that undermines the [false] claim of Mr. Hank Butler.

Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2014 12:08 PM
Cc: 'Brendan Boyle'; 'Himebaugh, Nicholas A.'
Subject: Mandatory Holocaust Education - excerpts from database accrued since mid-
November

Greetings!

As yall know, the bill is stalled, and Im told the Senate is reluctant to act because the House
currentlyis reticent to subject it to a vote.

The shortest version of my presentation [vide infra] needs an update, in that it seems Rep. Clymer
would support the bill IF [1]it were to pass the Senate, and [2]it were supported by the school-
teachers and the school-boards.

I would think that the former can be accomplished if House Majority Leadership were to be
made aware of two key-concepts [the first two indents regarding unfunded mandates [NOT in
this bill] and mandated subjects [NOT unprecedented in this bill]; if Rep. Clymer is
representative of other Rs, this SHOULD be as easily achieved in the House [via a terse
conversation with whomever] as it was in the Senate [after a terse conversation with John].
I would think the latter may be difficult to achieve, despite the potential agitation of the Dems
who support the bill [Brendan Boyle and Anthony Williams], but I havent explored this variable,
yet; it would perhaps fall into place were it to be recalled that BBs mandate amendment
failed by a 99-99 vote [which could probably be tipped after the Senate were to act favorably].

In short, this SHOULD be owned by the Rs [and, perhaps rented by the Dems, corrupting a
metaphor often applied to the involvement of the unions in lobbying activities], and I dont want to
await the results of the gubernatorial elections.

ADDENDUM: Im also told that a half-dozen bills are threatened that would mandate education of
other pet-concerns [such as the Potato Famine]; I care not, for they are [1]encompassed in the lingo
of the unit of Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights violations; and [2]undoubtedly worthwhile
and, thus, meriting consideration for a spot in the statute if not already encompassed. REMEMBER, we
are NOT mandating CURRICULUM, for this is the role of the 501 Local School Boards; we are only
ensuring this vital TOPIC [which has many contemporary correlates] is encompassed [in whatever form
is chosen by grass-root entities, facilitated gratis by entities such as the Holocaust Awareness Museum
and Education Center].

DISCLAIMER: I am writing/acting/speaking only as an individual [recognizing my pedigree as a GOP-
Committeeman for two decades]; the goal is to disabuse people of what Hank Butler has falsely
conveyed, and then to assess the lie-of-the-land. This SHOULD be a no-brainer!

Im always available @ 215=333-4900.
Mandatory Holocaust Education [e-mail to Rep. Paul Clymer]

I know the bill is in the Senate and its poised to have its 3
rd
reading and then to be passed unanimously
[we hope], noting that an amendment thereto [may shall] was unanimously adopted by the
Appropriations Committee.

When I met with Sen. Rafferty @ MCRC for an hour, his first question to me was Why is there a split in
the Jewish Community? He was referring, at the time, to the entire Jewish Federation [manifest as the
PA Jewish Coalition, representing the Philly Federation plus the Pittsburgh JCRC] vs. the Holocaust
Remembrance Museum and Education Center [the President of which is Chuck Feldman, who is on the
cc-list along with Sen. Rafferty].

I explained why [$$$ and ego], and then proceeded to disabuse him of two LIES that have emanated
from the mouth of Hank Butler [increasingly aggressively, with his behavior increasingly resembling that
of a cornered-rat]; all of this information, I have disseminated in blast e-mails and EVERYTHING I
say/write can be validated via Sen. Rafferty.

Here is the relevant documentation:

The legislature is, indeed, responsible for providing mandates that are transformed
administratively into operational language; in this case, statutory information
[http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/chap4toc.html] is available, and
you should note that the TOPICS are covered exhaustivelywhile the CURRICULUM is
left unspecified.

There is NO unfunded mandate because there is no funding needed to implement
what then is to be achieved locally by the Commonwealths 501 School Boards.

Meanwhile, Hank Butler and his side-kick [Robin Schatz] had been averring that this constitutes an
unprecedented effort that would foist upon government the unfunded mandate that they know the
GOP abhors; indeed, they argued this point even after Hank had received the appended letter
[1/2/2014] from the PDEwhich clearly avers otherwise [as BOTH generic/philosophical AND
specific/operational policy]which unambiguously depicts the proper role of state-oversight.

As a result, the Philly-Federation flipped 180
o
and forced a reformulation of the forces-
at-play; now there is truly a split between Philly-Pittsburgh [with Gregg Romanwith
whom Ive held two chats during the past few monthsapparently functioning as their
local point-man]; note the strong-lingo in a piece published yesterday in their local
organ
The Jewish Chronicle - Differences over mandate wording in Holocaust ed bill puts
passage in doubt
and you will appreciate the angst experienced by a group of serious, committed
[correct] individuals [including myself, of course] regarding an issue that carries
tremendous emotional overlay among both Jews and other ethnic groups who have
suffered group-tragedy [including Cambodia, Russia, China, Armenia].

I have typed extensively on this topic for the past -year, but you should please glance @ how I vetted
[NEGATIVELY] an earlier memo disseminated by Hank; it follows the aforementioned PDE-letter [or you
can follow the aforementioned hyperlink].

I must apologize for the length of this document, but know that we quote the infamous aphorism among
lawyers [If you have neither the case, nor the law, you argue ad hominem!] when reading the last,
self-serving, obnoxious, [incorrect] graph [Irresponsible actors masquerading as representatives of
Pennsylvanias Jewish community, which they are not, in certain parts of the state will torpedo the
chance to have Holocaust education curricula brought back to Pennsylvania schools if they continue
with this charade that could make Holocaust education a partisan issue.] and channeling the dismay of
the Holocaust Survivors who lobbied the Senators a few Mondays ago.

Thus, having attempted to have undone the deceitful lobbying of Hank Butler [whose reputation should
be sullied forever based on this performance, a message I will attempt to disseminate to his other
clients after the dust has settled on this issue]to whom I have remitted my rantsit is desirable to
pose a simple-question to you, namely, can you now support supplanting the discretionary-lingo with
Sen. Raffertys shall [which is not unprecedented and which does not constitute an unfunded-
mandate]???

http://www.scribd.com/doc/191160486/Action-Items-IX

The battle has been joined and the Dybbuk has emerged; to be provided is the complete-version of a
letter distributed by the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition [funded by Federation] that comprehensibly
CORRUPTS the database. It reflects the infamous disease-state of NIH [which doesnt denote the
National Institutes of Health, but which does connote a concept that is manifest as an individual taps his
head and admits Not Invented Here; essentially, those who dont own a potentially-successful idea
are, tragically, wont to diss it, thereby attempting to drag defeat from the jaws of victory. BTW, it is not
surprising that my effort to send a letter-to-the-editor to the Jewish Exponent has failed for, not only
was it not chosen for publication, but it has yet to be posted on the Internet on the Kvetch blog-site
[http://www.jewishexponent.com/a-first-step-on-holocaust-education]. To recall, this is what I wrote:

Your editorial prematurely ceded defeat regarding efforts to mandate Holocaust
education for all Pennsylvania Students.

You incorrectly concluded that the bill sponsored by Rep. Brendan Boyle had gained no
traction, in part due to petty politics; rather, it and that of fellow-Democrat Sen.
Anthony Williams were blocked because they contained an unfunded mandate, which
Republicans do not wish to foist upon the 501 local School Boards in the
Commonwealth.

Also, Mr. Hank Butler of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition was wrong when he claimed
there was no history for mandating curriculum of any sort on the part of legislators, for
the Academic Standards for Science and Technology and Environment and Ecology
statute is replete with topics that must be taught in all schools, a process that the
Common Core initiative is enhancing.

[See http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.83.html.]

Personal lobbying efforts have led to adoption, on December 9, of an amendment to
this bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee that replaces the discretionary word
may with the absolute term shall; absent are any accoutrements [such as teacher
certification] thatregardless of how attractive they may be to advocateswere
anathema to the GOP legislators, who are in leadership.

Efforts to achieve an attitudinal readjustment were amplified when staff notes
composed for the House Education Committee (which suggested the existing
Pennsylvania Code afforded cursory education) were discounted by a simple-reading
of current law; staff notes composed for the House Appropriations Committee (which
suggested the mandatory phraseology would not carry an appreciable fiscal impact
upon the government) simplified matters further.

HB-1424 [lines 13-16] now reads: Section 1554. Holocaust, Genocide and Human
Rights Violations Instruction.--(a) (1) Beginning with school year 2015-2016, each school
entity SHALL offer instruction in the Holocaust, genocide and human rights violations to
students.

The hearts of the Democrats were in the correct place, as evidenced by the earnestness
of their staffs, but the goal was to fight global ignorance not only regarding the Shoah,
but also regarding other mass-killings during the past century [Armenia, Ukraine,
Cambodia]; students must recognize that History is news that stays news!

Entities such as the Holocaust Awareness Museum will eagerly provide a curriculum and
dispatch a volunteer [which costs ~$125 per appearance], although subsequent efforts
to acquire state-funding [or from other granting institutions] could be pursued after this
fundamental law has been signed.

In addition to the aforementioned legislators, accolades are due to Senators Stewart
Greenleaf, John Eichelberger, and Mike Folmer, whose staffsin various ways
facilitated this process; it is now extremely likely the Senate Bill will fulfill the essence of
what is sorely needed, after which time (for reasons aforementioned) it is highly likely
the House will concur, through the efforts of Rep. Mike Vereb.

Thus, it appears Jews who worry that this manifestation of anti-Semitism will be
ignoredare not-so-sadly mistaken. As Senator John Rafferty said this past Friday, Lets
get this thing done!

Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D.
Abington, PA

Note how intuitively wrong-headed key-arguments in the PJC-letter [emphasis added] are debunked;
essentially, stripping-away the rhetoric, opposing a mandate is advocated because:

[1]Restoration of funding for Holocaust Education is preferable (presumably to enrich Federation-
related entities) {It is time to return to consistent and effective Holocaust education to our schools
and our students.};

[2]Mandating use of a particular curriculum by certified teachers is preferable (presumably to ensure
those who compose the former and approve the latter are appropriately funded to do so) { teachers
who will be teaching the Holocaust will be provided curriculum from the state and trained in the best
manner to teach this time in our history. Since the removal of the Ethnic Heritage Line Item in 2009,
Pennsylvania has lost over $300,000 in educational support towards teaching the Holocaust in the
Commonwealth}

[3]Mandating course curriculum on locally elected school boards is allegedly inconsistent with the
policy of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (presumably, as per information allegedly gleaned
from staff, perhaps conjured by the PJC but contradicted by statute). {PJC has learned that there has
not been a course curriculum mandate imposed by the legislature in over 50 years (if not longer).
There have been mandates on graduation qualifications (three years of mathematics, three years of
science, etc.), but not an actual course mandate. Course curriculum mandates can come from the
Pennsylvania Board of Education, though their general policy is to enable the local School Boards to
develop their own course curriculum.}

[4]Mandating Holocaust/Genocide/Human-Rights education would be ineffective and efforts to
achieve this status would invite opposition from statewide organizations and the PDE (presumably
because such unnamed statewide entities would define effectiveness in a yet-to-be-specified
fashion). {Pursing a mandate for all schools in Pennsylvania to teach the Holocaust through the
legislative process will not be effective and will (due to the precedent it would set) create opposition
from statewide organizations and possibly the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Any
opposition from these organizations or the administration would hinder the success of passage.}

[5]Legislation that would create an accreditation process by the PDE and enforced statewide would be
cost-effective (presumably ignoring the fact that this would constitute creating an unfunded-mandate).
{ HB 1424, as written, is designed to remove the financial burden of the public schools and benefit our
teachers. The schools who opt into teaching the Holocaust will have their teachers trained and
provided curriculum on the Holocaust from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The teachers
will also receive Continuing Education (CE) credit for their training.}

[6]Politically, those aligned with the PJC would arise to oppose a bill that merely would ensure the
topic-module (Holocaust/Genocide/Human-Rights) were taught to all students (presumably, invoking
lobbying-pals of the PJC which have yet to have emerged). {Amending HB 1424 will hinder this effort
and potentially stop the movement of this bill for this legislative session.}

In counter-distinction to these claims:

[1]The Amended HB-1424 would cost the PDE a grand-total of $7000 and would not require any
further input from the PJC or any other entity (although everyone would be empowered to provide a
consistent and effective Holocaust education to ALL Pennsylvania Students.

[2]The Amended HB-1424 would not mandate use of a particular curriculum by certified teachers
(requiring restoration of annual $300K funding for this endeavor) because entities such as the
Holocaust Awareness Museum would be more-than-willing to provide resources directly to the 501
School Boards in Pennsylvania, contingent upon how the local entities would wish to cover this module
(rather than having to comply with a top-down mandate, both of curriculum-content and certification),
thereby precluding forever any effort to restore the $300K Ethnic Heritage Line Item.

[3]The Amended HB-1424 would be consistent with existing statute, which explicitly contains many
legislatively-imposed course curriculum mandates (including, as per staff-notes from the PA-House,
cursory coverage of the Holocaust).
[See http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.83.html.]

[4]The Amended HB-1424 would be effective without the need to involve any statewide organizations
or even the PDE (and opposition from other entities and/or the PDE has not materialized, despite the
fact that this legislation has traversed the House and it poised to be approved (in an improved fashion)
by the Senate, thereby setting a worthwhile precedent.

[5]The Amended HB-1424 would not require creation of an accreditation process by the PDE to be
enforced statewide, thereby avoiding burdening The Forgotten Taxpayer with an unfunded-mandate,
even if other entities may not be able to invite provision of direct funding, such as public schools, and
even if benefit may not inure to our teachers (precluding the need to create an infrastructure through
which they may receive Continuing Education (CE) credit for their training.

[6]The Amended HB-1424 would be wildly-popular politically, as evidenced by the fact that there is
bipartisan support for mandatory Holocaust/Genocide/Human-Rights education (as advocated on
12/10/12 by Governor Tom Corbett and MontCo Commissioner Josh Shapiro @ Temple Sinai), an
endpoint that could only be achieved by Amending HB 1424 and expediting approval by the Senate (and
then by the House) during this legislative session.

Whats going on? The PJC appears more interested in creating a publicly-funded infrastructure that
would be applicable [admittedly] to a subset of Pennsylvania students [by restoring $300K annually,
probably to enrich the coffers of its lobbying-funders] than it is to ensure the unit be taught to all of the
Pennsylvania students; it is vital that the amended version be approved, thereby precluding enactment
of an unfunded-mandate that would be perceivable as an additional burden to local School Boards.

Thus, regarding the heavily-documented effort to mandate Holocaust/Genocide/Human-Rights
education, its insufficient to quote those who attended Tuesday-nights Israel Solidarity rally [Corbett
and Shapiro] when the facts-on-the-ground were palpably problematic; thats why I lobbied people
whom I knew [and who knew me] to transcend what they had been told by the Federation-financed PA
Jewish Coalition [which had spread falsehoods regarding the inability to mandate TOPICS be covered,
perhaps because of innate antipathy stemming from having to deal with a GOP-controlled legislature] to
perform the may shall flip [a change that was effectuated on Monday via the Appropriations
Committee]. Therefore, the reader is invited to reinforce the above interventions by contacting each
PA-Senator and conveying a simple-message to support the insertion of mandatory-lingo in the
Holocaust-bill.

HTHE PENNSYLVAPENNSYLVANIA JEWISH COALITION

Date: December 9, 2013

To: Members of Pennsylvania Senate

From: Hank Butler; Executive Director, Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition (PJC)

Subject: Support for House Bill 1424 (Holocaust Education) Unamended

The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition (PJC), representing Jewish Federations and communities throughout
Pennsylvania, supports House Bill 1424 (HB 1424) currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee to
be passed through the committee and Senate in its current form -- unamended.

From the early 1990s to 2009, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) annually allocated
funding to Holocaust education. It was assigned in the same line item along with two museums (one in
Philadelphia and one in Pittsburgh) via the Ethnic Heritage line item. The allocation in this line item was
of to educate teachers who voluntarily wanted to learn how to teach the Holocaust. In 2009, this line
item was eliminated during the FY 09-10 budget process. Since that time, there has been no allocation
for Holocaust education by the state. It is time to return to consistent and effective Holocaust
education to our schools and our students.

As the years continue to bring distance between the atrocities of the Holocaust and present day (almost
70 years), we need to emphasize the need for our society to remember the Holocaust. We must teach
our children about the horrific actions of the Nazis, the need to fight against hate, and the importance of
promoting tolerance.

Time may obstruct the understanding of how the Holocaust came to be and the horrendous actions that
took place throughout Europe during the Nazi regime. We can fight time by passing HB 1424. This
legislation will help us to effectively teach new generations to never forget what happened and assure
that actions of the Holocaust and genocidal activities never happen again.

HB 1424 was created to require Holocaust education (development of curriculum and training) for the
teachers whose schools choose to teach the Holocaust in their curriculum. This is a step above the
previous efforts to teach the Holocaust whereby the teachers who will be teaching the Holocaust will
be provided curriculum from the state and trained in the best manner to teach this time in our history.

There are efforts to amend HB 1424 to create a mandate for all schools to teach the Holocaust. Unlike
other states who have passed mandated Holocaust Education in their curriculum, it is the
Pennsylvania Department of Educations policy to not impose course curriculum on locally elected
school boards.

In our research and discussions with the Department of Education and Education experts in the
Pennsylvania House and Senate on the issue of legislative course curriculum mandate, the PJC has
learned that there has not been a course curriculum mandate imposed by the legislature in over 50
years (if not longer). There have been mandates on graduation qualifications (three years of
mathematics, three years of science, etc.), but not an actual course mandate. Course curriculum
mandates can come from the Pennsylvania Board of Education, though their general policy is to
enable the local School Boards to develop their own course curriculum.

While the PJC strongly supports the ideology that every school should teach the Holocaust in a thorough
and effective manner, the reality is that unlike other states, pursing a mandate for all schools in
Pennsylvania to teach the Holocaust through the legislative process will not be effective and will (due
to the precedent it would set) create opposition from statewide organizations and possibly the
Pennsylvania Department of Education. Any opposition from these organizations or the
administration would hinder the success of passage.

Since the removal of the Ethnic Heritage Line Item in 2009, Pennsylvania has lost over $300,000 in
educational support towards teaching the Holocaust in the Commonwealth. As time moves on and the
survivors of the Holocaust get fewer and fewer, there is a greater need for our schools to teach the
Holocaust in a consistent and effective manner we need to move forward with our teachings and
educational efforts sooner rather than later.

House Bill 1424 is a significant step towards educating our students about the Holocaust. Training our
teachers (who teach the Holocaust) how to teach this important time in our history in a consistently
and effective manner is imperative and should not be delayed. HB 1424, as written, is designed to
remove the financial burden of the public schools and benefit our teachers. The schools who opt into
teaching the Holocaust will have their teachers trained and provided curriculum on the Holocaust from
the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The teachers will also receive Continuing Education (CE)
credit for their training.

The PJC will continue our efforts to assure that ALL students in the Commonwealth are learning about
the Holocaust. The PJC plans to work with the Pennsylvania Board of Education, the Department of
Education, and the School Districts around the state to assure that our public schools continue to teach
this important event in our history. It is our goal to have ALL students learn about the Holocaust and
taught about this time in our history in a consistent and effective manner.

This being stated, THE CURRICULUM AND THE TRAINING HAS TO START NOW!!!

HB 1424 is a strong step towards returning the state to supporting Holocaust education in our schools.
Amending HB 1424 will hinder this effort and potentially stop the movement of this bill for this
legislative session.

The Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition (PJC) urges your support for passage of House Bill 1424 through the
Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee and the Pennsylvania Senate without amendments.

If you have any questions, please either call me at 717.330.4574 (cell) or e-mail me at
hank@pajewishcoalition.org.

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From: Robert B. Sklaroff, M.D. [mailto:rsklaroff@gmail.

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