MEDIA ADVISORY

Governor Steve Beshear Signs Holocaust Bill at St. Francis of Assisi

(Louisville, KY) On Thursday, May 8, at 10:00 a.m., Governor Steve Beshear will visit St. Francis of Assisi School to sign HJR6 (The Ernie Marx Holocaust Education Bill) into law. This law, which passed on April 16, 2008, requires the development of a curricula and curriculum guide on the Holocaust for all schools in the Commonwealth. Governor Beshear will be joined by several members of the Jewish community, including Holocaust survivors Anne Klein and Fred Gross. The ceremony will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church on 1960 Bardstown Road.

For the past three years, eighth-grade students at St. Francis, under the direction of St. Francis teacher Mr. Fred Whittaker and with the support of Rep. Mary Lou Marzian and Senator Tim Shaughnessy, wrote the bill, lobbied, and presented the legislation to the education sub-committee. This effort took on added momentum for the students after the 2007 death of their mentor, Holocaust survivor Ernie Marx.

According to St. Francis principal Paula Watkins: “It seems almost unbelievable that eighth-grade students initiated this entire process. Knowing how the study of the Holocaust impacted their own lives, they wanted all students in Kentucky to have this experience.”

See http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/08RS/HJ6.htm for the legislation.

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