Manitoba failing in efforts to provide Holocaust education in schools, Jewish advocate says

A global surge in antisemitism has put Holocaust education in the spotlight and Manitoba is not shining brightly, says the head of a Winnipeg Jewish advocacy organization.

Belle Jarniewski, executive director of theJewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, would givethe province a failing grade if its effort was listed on a report card.

"Right now we are seeing an explosion of antisemitism, as there has been every time that there is a war or a conflict in the Middle East," Jarniewski said.

"We feel the pushback here. Jewish parents are worried about the safety of their children. Adults are worried about their own safety and some are afraid even to self-identify as Jews."

Jarniewski would like the provinceto have a specific curriculum developed for Manitoba teachers that provides them with details about what to teach about the Holocaust and why it's an important topic.

"While there are a number of amazing teachers who do a terrific joband understand the importance about teaching the Holocaust," she said, many others "are struggling withouthaving an actual curriculum developed for them."

Some teachers "are spending no time on it, some are spending a small amount of time on itbut what we need is mandated study."

It's especially important for high school students to learn more about the Holocaust,Jarniewski said.

"What we're seeing at the moment is that students that choose to take the global issues class, for instance, [the Holocaust] will be generally a part of it, but it could be a very small part of it."

Part ofsocial studies curriculum

Holocaust education is taught in Manitoba as part of the social studies curriculum in grades 6, 7, 9 and 11, aprovincial spokesperson said in an email to CBC News.

For example, in Grade 6, Holocaust education is in the curriculum coveringCanadian history from 1867 to the present day.In Grade 11, the history of Canada includes thestudy of the Second World War and the Holocaust.

"Holocaust education can also be embedded in English language arts and arts education. Teachers often include literary works with Holocaust themes or content," the spokesperson said, adding that in the arts, plays, dances, visual arts or music related to the Holocaust may be featured or explored.

The spokesperson didn't say what, specifically,is taughtabout the Holocaust.

The education department says it also works with organizations that promote Holocaust and antisemitism education to help teachers with their curriculum.

British Columbia and Ontario haverecently announced thatHolocaust education will be mandatory for Grade 10 students starting in fall 2025. The delay is to allow forconsultation and development with the Jewish community and education partners.

The Ontario government says the Grade 10 history course will explicitly link the Holocaust to extreme political ideologiesincluding fascism, antisemitism in Canada in the 1930s and 1940s, and the contemporary impacts of rising antisemitism.

A2019 surveysuggested that one in fiveCanadian youths at the time were unaware of what happened during the Holocaust.

Link betweenantisemitism,lack of education

Jarniewski applauds the moves by Ontario and B.C. to expand their Holocaust education, saying there is a significant link between antisemitism and lack of education on the Holocaust. When the education isn't there, there is room for hate to be born and spread, she said.

"We know that teaching about the Holocaust is about many other things as well. It's about learning to recognize the early warning signs that can indicate the potential for mass atrocity," Jarniewski said.

"It teaches students about civic responsibility and personal responsibility, and it promotes human rights, ethicsand civic engagement."

TheJewish Heritage Centre provides guidance on the Holocaustto educators and holds professional development sessions. Jarniewskisaidabout 40-50 teachers attend those sessions, but it's a small percentage of the 16,600 teachers theManitoba Teachers' Society says there arein public schools across the province.

In an email to CBC News on Wednesday, Education Minister Nello Altomare said the province is committed to expanding Holocaust education in the curriculum, butno further details were provided.

Altomaredid say he looks forward to working with education partners in expanding that education.

Jarniewskiis hopeful. She reached out by email to Altomare and deputy minister Brian O'Leary, askingfor a meeting, and that is now being arranged.