Oh and of course the USA never bends historical fact to suit it's own ends! I agree that removing the unpleasant parts of history to avoid offending anyone is totally unacceptable but people in glass houses......

linda , chichester, uK

Guess we should have let Hitler take the UK? Would it have been easier 2 teach the truth then?This is absolutely ridiculous. 2 pick & choose only the pleasant parts of history is a disservice to students & an insult to all of those who perished during Holocaust, as well as all of those died fightin

Lisa, Collierville, USA

It sickens me that we have become so politically correct that we can't teach our kids the facts. You know the old saying of history teachers, "those who fail to learn the lessons of history are bound to repeat them."

Nick, Tulsa, USA

Modyfing the history is the worst act a country could allow to the childrens. Erasing the past erases the future.

Henrique Magalhaes, Novo Hamburgo, Brazil

If England doesn't want to teach "real" history, including the Holocaust, to please Muslims and other
minorities, then why do they not delete the teaching of any World War II history, including Hitler's bombing of London? Crazy? Yes!
Don Malquist, WA, USA

Don Malquist, Blaine, USA

Students that disagree with subject matter should simply fail the courses. Teachers that don't teach Truth should be fired and replaced with responsible staff. If Muslims go to a country it is by choice, they should accept the Country as it is.

Patrick O'Connell, Royal Oak, USA

I am so sick of hearing about things being removed or changed or named differently to please others. It is part of the worlds history. Perhaps we should stop teaching about Pearl Harbor because we may insult those of Japanese decent. Pretty soon there will be nothing left TO teach!

Red, Las Vegas, USA

How can such a great country in the world such as England simply remove the Holocaust from its curriculum??? Did it just become a boring subject? And why are the Muslims being offended by learning about the Holocaust in school, it has NOTHING to do with them.

Barak Krengel, Kansas, USA

Every race, religion and nationality has a history with events and occurences that were sometimes glorious and other times horrible. Not to teach both is not to teach at all. If people are offended and /or ashamed by their history would that not be motivation to improve things in the current time?

Joe Buffa, Bayville, USA

I'm surprised Her Magesty, Q. Elizabeth would allow such a paultry excuse. The film "Justice for Jews from Arab Nations" is available through Sephardic House, NYC, USA. [American Sephardic federation.org.] Educate yourselves. Those who want an Arabic ed. need to attend arabic schools.

Miriyam Karasik, Cathedral City, CA, USA

This is obsurd. Lets forget the twin towers now we are at it and lets forget anything that might offend "certain religions" what will these stupid polititians do next.

In memory of six million Jews, 20 million Russians, 10 million Christians and 1,900 Catholic priests who were murdered

gina, gibraltar, gibraltar

I think this is an outrage! What happened happened and we should learn from these mistakes. Do they also wnt to scrap the crusaders that did horrible things as well? Or are those anyway not in the syllabus? Look facts in the face and live with it!

j payne, Incheon, South Korea

What's going on in UK? You got to be joking, hide the history not to offence the mulims? Are the some kind of superior peopley you have to obey and kneel for? Isn't UK a western nation with western values, or have I missed something here?
Pieces of what's happening in UK is also happening in Norway

Steinar, Oslo, Norway

The Holocasut stands as the single most devastating and horrific killing of Jews and others deemed sub-standard by the Nazi regime. We must never let this lesson of barabric cruelty be forgotten. The moment we fdeny what happened in Europe, where the Jews were exterminated, the world is at peril.

judy goldstein, longboat key, USA

please mandee from newmarket ...i hope you really don't believe that . the holocaust Must be taught in schools ... "lest we forget"

b, toronto,

What if your Grandmother or relative died in the Holocaust. How would you feel..I guess the schools should stop teaching that the Americans dropped the A Bomb on Japan, it might offend an American. I'm American and that story should be told, for better or worse "IT'S HISTORY"
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Lynn Loosier, New York, USA

Mandee, we absolutely DO need to learn about things that happened 70 years ago in order to prevent them from happening again in the future. There is no reason that learning about the Holocaust should offend anyone, even Germans. It is a part of our collective history as a world. Also, it's "too."

Sarah, Manayunk, United States

Mike H, New Hampshire, USA, with you all the way!

Martin Gruber, Klein Engersdorf, A 2102, Austria

While it is always important for teachers to be sensitive to all of their students beliefs, it is also important to teach lessons of tolerance and compassion, which are common themes that the Holocaust embraces. It is also vital for children in primary school to learn about the history of their own country and that of the world around them, so that they may prevent such atrocities from reoccurring in the future. Of course, one can not force students to listen or believe what is taught to them-- perhaps a permission slip for elementary school children to learn about the issue would be better than ignoring the topic all together.

Stephanie, Phoenix, USA

Welll i think they should take it out of school,
we dont need to learn about something that happend 70 years ago.
Yeah it does offend other people SUCH as germans because they didnt have a choice or else they would be killed to.

mandee, newmarket, canada

The longer the Muslims are placated, the more emboldened they will become. By bending to their will, you make them think their misogynistic backwards culture is more important thank your own. If we go to their countries, we would have to abide by their archaic rules (and rightly so) THEY should have to abide OUR rules. If they don’t like it, they can go back to their own countries. I am hard pressed to find a contribution to the world by Islam in my lifetime. It isn’t art, science, music, peace, or medicine. I don’t consider the bomb vest or the IED to be useful. Wake up England! What happened to Churchill’s Great Brittan? I though you would fight them on the beaches etc. Where is the country whose citizens stood up to the Nazis in the Blitz? Wait until they tell you the Queen must wear a Hajab!!!!!

Mike H, New Hampshire, USA

When will we get a government in this country that will allow British cultural cornerstones to stand head and shoulders above the sensitivites of a few loud mouthed radicals? It offends me greatly that we have to modify the teaching of world events to satify a minority. The workers of this country pay for the vast majority of those educated in this counrty and I for one insist that the kids are taught properly, otherwise we are paying taxes to teach lies.
There have always been examples of history being modified to suit social or political needs. This does not make it right, the Holocaust is too big an issue for humanity to forget, its not a religious or racial issue, its about how one group of people treated another, if learning about it makes you feel uncomfortable, GOOD, it should do! I would be deeply saddened if this important lesson is lost to future generations, they have a right to know and those who suffered during this period deserve to be remembered.

Simon , London,

How can anyone just accept this?!
We should stand up to these groups who deny the Holocaust and send real veterans in to teach these lessons! People who were there! My grandfather for one!
These teachers should be ashamed! They should quit their jobs and go look for something in retail, or insurance....because schools should be buildings filled with history and knowledge!

When children challenge teachers with questions...this is when they LEARN.

Lou, Vancouver, Canada

I do understand the concerns of the teachers facing such a difficult issue as the human conflictual nature regarding difference and will for power. I believe that teaching history, teaches us that it has been, and still is, difficult to live with difference and that we as human beings tend to misuse power. Wouldn't that be a great opportunity though, to reflect on how are we now sharing and learning from one another how to live together keeping our differences? Wouldn't that be an incentive for schools to reflect with their students alternatives to power relationships? Perhaps not. It's easier to hide the passed rather than to offer teachers tools and training on how to deal with such great responsibility. It's easier to alienate students and keep them ignorant. Give them a credit card and send them to the shops instead.
DC, London

DC, London, UK

I would cringe to see the face of a WWII veteran after telling them that children are not being taught about something as ghastly as the holocaust. After what the world endured, I can think of no greater insult to the fighting soldier or the starving prisoner who died. How can any sane individual agree to this? The Holocaust was witnessed by many and is extensively documented, we can even consider it as being relatively recent history. So I say "Shame on those teachers who bend to these wishes! Show some courage and stand up!!"

Kit O'Connor, Trenton, Canada, ON

God forbid a Muslim should be exposed to the very real relationship that occured between Hitler and Jerusalem's Grand Mufti (who incidentally stayed in Europe as a guest of Hitlers and was responsible for implementing a muslim ss regiment. It seems to be Muslims are more offended that this historical fact will have light shed on it than they are about the Muslims of that time who willingly participated as SS soldiers. I certainly hope the teachers and parents of the UK will not be silenced by such ignorance.

Christine, Orillia, Canada

England that took part in the world war 2.
UK soldiers did winess by their own eyes concenration camps and survivours.

How this countires education system can stop teaching it? and avoid this subject?

Maybe we should stop teaching about United states history in England? It could offend many nations on what was done to Indians? and maybe we should stop teaching Australian history as well? It could affend many nations what was done to aboregins? Or slavory in US? it also can offend many nations...

Or maybe England colonial history should be not tought as well?

Terrible decision. and closing eyes on th ehistory only because other peopel can't face the truth is a terrible mistake and decsion.

Gennadi Traiberman, Atlanta, USA

Shame! Shame! Shame! who has forgotten the Chamberlain lesson of appeasement for the radical or the insane. No matter how hard ...one must live with the truth and the Holocaust of 6 million Jews was the truth. Stop trying to appease a group and teach all children what is right and wrong. For if you do not stand up for truth then before long, one will read in the history books how it was England’s imagination that London was bombed by the Germans or more probable it would be written that it England’s own fault for World War II and the Nazi party was just a missed understood group who were not loved by their mothers. Come on!! England please do not let the millions of your countrymen and women die in vane because the truth may offend some. Be proud of the fact that you were an instrumental part in saving the civilized world over 60 years ago.

Michael Glidden, Boise, ID

Why don't we ban Remebrance day, Battle of Britain, Trafalgar, all the other pomp and circumstancial events which once made Britons feel Great. What a sad state of affairs, will anyone out there dare to put their foot down or will we all have to emmigrate to a country who don't just give theirs away?
Phil, Cumbria (the last Bastion)

Phil, Cumbria, England

Right thats it. Whos for a revolution. We must start putting our collective foot down in this country before we lose our entire indentity.
Things like the Holocaust must not be forgotten but subjects like evolution and creationism should be given side by side and let the children decide. If they are considered old enough to take tests then they are old enough to make up their own minds.

Jane , Northampton, UK

Before long, if not already, all the survivors of this horrid event will have passed on. If we don't remember history isn't it written that is enevitable that it will be repeated. Oh My God. Can no one in power see this?

Mary Smith, Tulsa, OK

I feel sorry for England - the newest muslim country.

Troy Turner , Los Angeles, USA

A sad reflection on those teachers who would appease the strident minority voices who wish to deny history. Does not the UK have a Curriculum Council, wherein the subjects relevant to educating your youth are proposed, agreed upon and mandated?
If you do not, perhaps you should - and let its constitution be a broad cross section of your community; let its resulting content include the evil and the good in equal measure, wherein, in the name of religion, mankind has strayed from sanity.
Sadly, again, the UK is not the only nation in which misguided people seek to selectively present historical fact to further their own agendas.
Even in the US, that bastion of free speech, some schools refuse to teach or even encourage debate on the subject of evolution, preferring instead to push the narrow viewpoint of a myopic few religious zealots.
Chamberlain learnt many years ago that appeasement leads to ruin...for future generations' sake, wake up Britain, before it is too late.

Bob Douglas, Baldivis, Western Australia

I would just like to remind the world that when the nazis took over germany they changed history to, look it up, they took over, burnt books and rewrote history as hey wanted it to be, it was using this that they bred hate against jews and basically anyone who was Aryan/ conforming. We remove the holocaust or crusades we set the stage for a repeat of it.

And since when did countries like Iran who deny it happened have the right to dictate our opinion? Let them dictate their small disillusioned country but dont let them have ours as well.

This isnt against muslims at all. Nearly all Muslims are well educated and have vast reserves of commen sense but apparently not all do. And neither does our government either.

Anyone who targets all muslims because of this is as stupid as the people who deny the holocaust.

But regardless these people who deny it deny our very rite to understand and to not be taken for a fool.

Mark, Croydon, 'Great' (but not very smart?) Britain

Dear all,
history always offends someone. There are always mistakes, wrongdoings and pain. Along with those are amazing lessons of goodness, courage and honour, and we and our children must learn about them all. That is how, no matter what our culture or religion is, we can grow up to be good people.

Kalina Silva, Porto,

I want to say that "I cannot believe this", but the sad truth is, I can. Truth is truth, whether you like it or not. Society's "stance for today" can not be allowed to erase the truth of history. If we do not know where we came from we have no hope of knowing where we are going. Even greater, we have no gage to keep ourselves from repeating the worst that we can be. Political correctness/society's will must stop this "over simplifying" of everything in the name of "lack of offense". We are humans. We DO MAKE MISTAKES! We must record them & remember them in order to avoid making the same ones again.

There is a balance that can be achieved where we can live inspite of our differences without it being a forced "sameness". The animal & plant kingdoms are extrememly varied & yet they not only live but flourish with each other. There is HOPE but we must take a STAND. Parents, officials & citizens please do not stand by & do nothing. Raise your voice. Make a difference!

GL Smith, Buies Creek, NC/USA

Great Britain ......Ha there is nothing Great about this country now....We bend at the slightest thing.........WHY should we change our history ....just so we do not offend others....HISTORY is HISTORY....and the holocaust did happen

Why is it if we go to other countries we are expected to abide and respect their laws and ways....BUT we alow the world and his dog to come to our country and then to start dictating how our lives should be........we have to be soo careful not to offend...what about....the british.......we have our heratige our culture our religions....these are just as important as anyone elses........but no one cares if we are offended or not....these things only go one way.......there is a time bomb ticking in this world and ....if we do not stand up for our own rights in our own country ...then God help us...........( anyones GOD !!!!!!!)

W Walker, Immingham, UK

Hello! I'm portuguese. We didn't felt direclty the consequences of the Holocaust. At least not as much as countries like Holland, France, Italy and... England!!!!!!!
In my point of view this is absolutley SHAMEFULL for the english people. Please, good and thruthfull people stand up against that coward coward atitude! Fight for Truth just like your ancestors fought for Freedom, Justice and Human Rights!

José Pedro Henriques da Silva, Alcobaça, Portugal

So....if I were to travel to a mainly Muslim country, would I be able to say "Teach my child about the Holocaust?"

No. I would get beaten to a pulp.

The UK has lost its back bone. No other country would give up its values to make sure no one is offended. This is a perfect case of the over used phrase "Political Correctness Gone Mad".....Why is it overused? Because it keeps happening.

The UK is no longer the country I was proud of.

Lucas Black, Farnborough,

Four years ago we emmigrated to Italy with our 3 children. We are now returning and it scares me that all we hold dear is being wiped away by mindless cowards.
In Italy, children are taught the history of their country foremost and to hold onto it with pride. In geography, they are taught about their country and to appreciate it.
I so hope that our education system teaches ,and allows us, to have the knowledge our children deserve, learn from our mistakes and understand that ignorance is harmful.

S Graham, Perugia, Italy

Whats the point of free speech when the very institutions that should cherish and promote that amongst our children are " hiding " our history to appease a minority. Shakespeare " to thine own self be true then thou canst be false to no man" Take his advice history teachers.

S Hartles, uk,

This is offensive to the intelligence of every human being in the United Kingdom (and on the planet) irrespective of race or religion. It’s absurd, it’s 1984, its communism at its worst, its national socialism - how the bloody hell are we as a species going to learn from history if certain knowledgable (sic) politicians and academics censor it….

Alan, UK,

I have just learnt today! 24:1:2008 that my daughters education has been changed because these idiots say its offensive, Most of them are actually wonderful as people, but BOY! their beliefs have gone too far to influence my daughters education on "The Holocaust" and for the millions that died during this darkest hour of human history.
POINT1: WE shall never forget! those who fought for our freedom.
POINT2: This is NOT Racism, its a way of saying "Your the visitor to these shores and if you DO NOT LIKE IT? (GO HOME)
POINT3: To all Religious education: if this is to be the way then all religious teachingshould be scrapped from schools
NB I am from the far east and very ASIAN in looks and beliefs, I will always be a VISITOR although born here I will never forget where I came from but I am greatful that the UK gave me THE CHANCE TO LEARN AND GROW UP HERE AND i WILL ALWAYS RESPECT THE UK WAY OF LIFE.. PERIOD

Paul, Birmingham,

millions of people were killed/executed in ww2. lets not hide from the fact that they were people of all religions christian, jewish, muslim to deny that any of this (the holocaust) happened is to deny these people existance. teach history as it happened not how you want it to have happened.

jill, perth, western australia

I am sitting across from my Jewish roommate and we are shocked and appalled that this is acceptable in the UK. I cannot believe that this isn't getting more media coverage!! Even this article doesn't point out how horrible this is. What's next for the UK? Maybe they shouldn't let the Jews sit on park benches. It might offend someone.

Jessica McCall, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

Erasing the holocaust from school syllabus' is a display of racism and a giant goosestep towards the increasing ignorance of our countries youth. It silences remaining Semitic voices across the globe in a bid to appease, and customise the cruel facts of history in order to make them more palatable. Jews across the world, and indeed ourselves as a nation should be offended by this decision. It is an act of censorship and cowardice in the vital communication of history, and an insult to our integrity, world heritage and intelligence.

Louise Stinchcombe, London, UK

Poor, poor U.K. !!!
Next U.K. generation will ask to avoid talking about 11/11 in USA...it never happened, just a "myth" from the Americans ???
I had another view in my mind about U.K. people... DO YOU REALLY accept this ???

laurent Vandoorne, Gullegem, Belgium

Being a daughter of a survivor of Auschwitz and ,becasue of this ,teaching genocide and mass murder at a UK university, I am very alarmed and sad that the victims of the holocaust are yet again being denied their voice. We learn from history on a number of levels and to teach about the holocaust raises many important questions for us in the 21st Century. Genocide did not cease to happen after the Second World War, for example the Rwandan Genocide and the Genocide in Screbrinica happended in our our so called 'enlightened' times. By teaching the holocaust we can move on and apply what we have learnt to situations that are occuring now, for example in Darfur, and in our very recent past. Important questions need to be addressed by the older generation and our younger generation. We must not forget the sufferings of millions of people either because it is 'offensive' or 'emotive', we must be honest in our endeavours to seek the truth and mean when we say 'Never Again'.

Kasia Wachala, Blackburn, UK

I got a form letter about this subject. I went on line to enquire
if this was true. My God what a travesty of justice. I trust this
will not spread to other countries being so stupid. History
is history you can't deny the past. Teach it from all view points
instead. I had a British education in Rome, in the sixties
and history was the best subject I had. Coming from South
Africa all we got was the dutch settlers and the afrikaaners
trekking and all the Zulu wars. English history was all inclusive. I now live in Canada and hope the Canadians do not go the same route as the UK.
Colleen Dawkins
British Columbia
CANADA

Colleen Dawkins, Courtenay, British Columbia, CANADA

What about all the non-Muslim student? What will they learn? How fair is it to them to short their education in the name of - what?

Science has not backed down with evolution, it has fought to keep it in the curriculum. Why does history have no backbone?

Barbara Cooper, Farmington Hills, Michigan

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it...." George Santayana
This famous statement has produced many paraphrases and variants:
"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
"Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes."
"Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it."
"Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors are destined to repeat them."

Let's hope not, eh?

Guy Masterson, Northaw, Herts

Re your article 02/04/07 by Alexandra Frean "Schools Drop Holocaust Lessons...."
So sorry for England...once a mighty Lion now a wimpy little pussy cat......being pushed around by a variety of low life do gooders.....get over the political correctness garbage and get back to being a tolerant but strong non-subservient country once again.

James Cunningham, Perth, Australia

Right Garry, so it's the teachers that make a choice, which does make a difference.
However, an appropriate measure would be that the Department for Education should order the holocaust to be in any history lesson in every school. This has nothing to do with Muslim students being offended, because this way history is coloured by the strongest opinion! It's clearly a matter of principal.
Everybody is free not to learn from history, but we all are entitled to know how, where and when history was formed.
Truth is not something decided on by a majority of votes!
UK Government should take it's responsibility and take a stand!
Ron Jelsma
Holland

Jelsma, Amsterdam, Holland

Why don't you all read the article. It is not the schools or the Education Authority or the Government that are failing to teach the Holocaust. It is individual teachers.

What a lot of waffle from a piece of research that just might help to reinforce the teaching and so much vitriol against us.

Garry, Proud to be British and proud to have visited Belsen. Proud to have served my country in Germany. How many of you who condemn us in all the above posts can say the same?

Garry, Near London, Great Britain

This is a travisty! I'm outraged that they would even think of removing this bit of world history from their schools just to placate a bunch of people. I have seen the vidio's and even taken a class in school where we studied the Holocast in depth so that we knew that what happened then was wrong. It's wrong to think that just because of some people that the Holocast can be swept under a rug and forgotten. That's just wrong!

Taresa Hibbard, Richland, WA

If memory of history serves me correctly (and it usually does), the US did not officially enter the war in 1939. But some of our air force men volunteered to go and fly fighter planes with the Brits - so we did in fact support Britian during the earlier years of the war before we officially entered the war. I don't know how many of our people died during that time, but I'm sure one of you gurus can research that right quick. The US did, however, officially enter the war in Britian and in time to help beat the Nazies off the back door in Britian. Having said that, I don't like this business of throwing up this fact to the Brits, the French or anyone else in the format of "if it weren't for us, the Brits would be speaking German" or the Nazies would be drinking coffee from the side walk cafes in Paris". This is quite often mean spirited and doesn't help anything. Another reason why history should be properly taught and learned-can't learn from the past if we don't know history.

Salie Henry, Frisco, TX (USA)

The fanatics that are offended by the teaching of historical fact are waging a very clever war and have the patience and cunning to have it span decades or centuries. Our current government officials don't have the guts or the forsight to nip this thing in the bud and are directly contributing to the dissolution of democracy and freedom as we know it. Shame on the British government for bowing to the few who want to rewrite history to serve their own cause and shame on any other government or people who allow this kind of desecration of the suffering of millions of people who experienced the attrocities caused by the same kind of people who want to erase the facts of history. Write your government officials and express yourself now or risk finding yourself in a world where you cannot.

CharlesM, Liberty, Florida

CORRECTED POSTING: I simply can not believe that the British People (English, Scottish, Welsh, and I am one fourth each Scottish and Welsh, and Cornish) would tolerate this pulling The Holocaust and the Crusades out of their curriculum. These are the people who stood alone against the tyranny of German National Socialism, when the USA should have been in WW II from 1939 onwards, nevertheless, you stood alone. Sir Winston must be spinning in his grave!! Now, when a "threat" comes from Arabic National Socialism (look on the Web for Michel Afluk and Amin al Husseini; there is empirical proof that Arab National Socialism - Baathism - is NAZI, their political testament being the French translation of Mein Kampf), do you just want to roll over, play dead, and hope nothing "untowards" happens? Again, Sir Winston MUST be spinning in his grave!! Americans are still a fundamentally defiant people, not in any way prepared to accept this PC garbage. I suspect we will always be so. It is just US.

Thomas Simpson Jr, Millard, Nebraska USA

What is the first comment saying about the US not being involved in 1939? How can anyone say a thing like that when we saved them! The Brits would be speaking German if it wasn't for us! He/she needs a history lesson of their own!! What does this have to do with British schools ignoring the facts of history???

Mary DeSantis, whitesboro, NY

I simply can not believe that the British People (English, Scottish, Welsh - and I am one fourth each Scottish and Welsh, - and Cornish) would tolerate this. These are the people who stood alone against the tyranny of German National Socialism, when the USA should have been in WW II from 1939 onwards. Sir Winston must be spinning in his grave!!

Now, when a "threat" comes from Arabic National Socialism (look on the Web for Michel Afluk and Amin al Husseini; there is empirical proof that Arab National Socialism - Baathism - is NAZI, their political testament being the French translation of Mein Kampf).

Political "correctness" is doing its best to make inroads over here in the USA too. It has made some progress. But Americans are still a fundamentally defiant people. It is in our national character. So PC is still finding us a tough nut to crack, as I suspect we will always be. "Never quit", I believe Sir Winston said. That is good advice for all Euro-Americans to now follow!

Thomas Simpson, Omaha, Nebraska USA

Shame on the British for caving into political correctness. How could anyone in education deny the atrocities of the Holocaust when they have been so well documented by the Germans, themselves, and by the Americans? General Dwight D. Eisenhower had the foresight to make sure atrocities were well documented by
American liberators because he knew that some day someone would deny that the Holocaust ever took place. I wonder if any of the history teachers in the UK have ever seen Holocaust survivors with the CC numbers branded into their bodies?

Yesterday, I spent three hours teaching about the Holocaust and WWII to sophomores eager to learn of events from a “war baby.” Thank God, we are still able to teach in the USA not only the Holocaust, but also the evidence proving that it took place.

Linda Jones Simmons
USA

Linda Simmons, Pasadena, LA, USA

History is history we cant change it but we can learn from it.
No good hiding from the truth and the facts, we should all be taught about our past, especially those that have changed the way we now live

steve seymour, weymouth, england

Shame on the people who would drop this subject. And of all country's to do so!! How many millions of English citizens gave their lives to defeat the Nazis and the Third Reich? Your great cities were bombed and burned by one of the most destructive ideologies that our planet has ever known. If any lesson should teach us what beliefs of supremacy and intolerance can lead to it is the lesson of the Holocaust. It was cowardice and appeasement that made the Holocaust possible - and so it is with the decision to drop this from the curriculum. Shame on you!

Bob Ritter, Union Vale, NY / USA

Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it. Those may not be the exact words but the thought is accurate. The teachers and those who allow this to happen should be ashamed of themselves. GB of all places should understand the devastation that appeasement can bring.

Sheryl Bar, Philadelphia, PA USA

Also cannot BELIEVE the news on the change to the curriculum. History should be factual as far as possible not PC!

Fiona, Reading,

It is both tragic and disgusting that England is so concerned about offending Muslims that they will no longer allow important parts of history to be taught in schools. I find this to be so incredibly sad.

Shame on you Great Britain!

Jonathan David, New York,

Hisroty should not be whitewashed or rewritten to avoid "offending" a particular group. Muslims have no good reason to be offended by teaching the facts about the Holocaust, as they are not accussed of any wrongdoing in it. And its occurrence is fact, despite claims otherwise. Althought the numbers are rapidly declining, there are still witnesses to those horrific events among us today. To fail to acknowledge such evil and try to learn how to prevent its recurrence is to sentence us to once again be its victims.

Ann, long island,

I am an Englishman who can trace his ancestry back to 1485. How dare the Department of Education condone the non teaching of the 'Holocaust'.

Muslims played no part in the event. The perpetrators were German Nazis, not All Germans, just those who went along with Hitler's sick regime.

I will be writing to the Department of Education and the leaders of those religions whom we are supposedly protecting.

This is by no means the last that will be heard of this. I for one will not rest until this sort of stupidity is banished from this country.

Nicholas Emm

Nicholas Emm, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Shame on you Great Britain. It is inconceivable to me that your country could be so spineless. This is a travesty and I am not a Jew.

This colors my perception of Great Britain and makes me very sad.

David Bowers, Georgetown, Maine (USA)

booo! If you live in the UK you must adhear to being British, same thing for Canada, USA and any other country for that matter... if you want life to operate a certain way then live in the country that opperates that way. as countries we need to stand up and say no. We are so worried about stepping on toes! baugh! Tell it like it is, my grandfather faught in that war, and his brother died... it happend and it needs to be taught. They are intollerent of us, look at the stupid reaction with the poorly named Teddy bear. We need to stop being nice and pull out of their country and send them back to theirs as that is where life is lead according to how they want to live it.

Betty, Canada,

What a tragedy....to remove from history those lessons that might prevent such an event from ever recurring! Those who do not learn from the past are bound and determined to repeat it. I pray for our world. What are we doing? Slavery was wrong, it occured....it cannot be erased, but it can be prevented! The Holocaust OCCURED...learn, prevent, protect. Such a spineless group of politicians that rule our policies and procedures!!!

K Bacheller, Pinedale, Wyoming

I am not surprised by the UK government's decision to drop lessons in the Holocaust. This government, and the previous, has totally lost the plot and capitulating to threats from the Muslim community. Might as well forget teaching history as a subject as somewhere somehow it is going to offend a certain section of the population who are intolerant and ignorant.

I just read another article today that overworked hospital staff are "ordered to stop all medical work five times a day to move Muslim patients beds so that they face towards Mecca. The lengthy procedure, which also includes providing fresh bathing water, is creating turmoil among overstretched staff on bustling NHS wards."

Welcome to the Islamic State of Britain.

Jeff Daniels, London,

Why not change every horrible part of history! God forbid anyone is upset! oops, I am sorry I said GOD!

barnes, G Bay,

I can only concur with the views already expressed. We here in the states can only shake our heads in wonder at our government and wait for the next election to do something. But this is so reprehensible and I cannot believe the teachers,themselves are not appalled.
Diane Heigel
Webster Groves,Missouri U.S.A.

Diane Heigel, Webster, USA

To suppress any aspect of history to appease the sensitivities of any particular group is to rewrite history in the manner of the Ministry of Truth in Orwell's 1984, for is only in the recording and interpreting of written and audiovisual archives that we can continue to remember what happened. If these archives are distorted or partially omitted in any context - in our schools, by politicians, by the media - our society is not only the poorer for it, but we do great offence to those millions who suffered in the extermination camps of Poland and Germany, Cambodia, the labour camps of the "Gulag Archipelago"(..) and to those who perished on both sides of other terrible events. We also sanitise the actions of the perpetrators of these inhumane acts by muffling any public discussion of their deeds.

Are British teachers also forbidden to discuss topical issues that eventually become history and may be interpreted as offensive?

Resist politically correct censorship now!

C Bangs, Auckland, New Zealand

I was today made aware of the decision of your government to drop the Holocaust from school history subjects. We might as well not report wars, the atom bomb, atrocities, rapes, riots, murders, aircraft crashes, ship sinkings, the Iranian teddy bear, the current government, weather forecasts, the Queen's birthday and anything else you care to mention since somebody somewhere is going to be offended. Does AD 1066 or 1215 still exist? If one cannot mention the holocaust in UK schools, why have "history" lessons at all?" When I was at school at the end of WW2, I had a friend who showed me a published list of British Jews who would be eliminated when the Nazis reached Britain. Her family was on that list. I was 10 or 11 years old and I was sickened. I cannot see why this should be forgotten and the opportunity for a repeat situation be created. Shame on the Education Department and your government. Sickened again, John Ward

John Ward, Adelaide, South Australia

Good grief...have you gone MAD my dear cousins across the sea...take back your country...don't let the views of radical religions drive out the truth about the halocaust or the crusades...God heip us all...what happened to the once great United Kingdom...unite...do not be overtaken...what is next...conversion?

Margaret Miller, Nashville,

When teaching the holocaust, teachers should also include modern history such as the Middle East holocaust where millions have died in order to protect just one recently formed unwelcomed state.

Harry Boswell, Cambridge., U.K.

Are we also to forget the attrocities against Muslims in Bosnia in case we offend the Jewish population? Our children need to know of these things so we can at least hope it won't happen again, not worry about offending a minority of the muslim community. We surely need to learn from history - not sweep it under the carpet.
I'm appalled,
Owen, Devon

Owen Williams, Tiverton, Devon

I missed this piece of news, not surprised really as I expect it was pushed under the carpet quickly.

What is the point in teaching history if we don't actually teach history....and instead teach a selection of the past that is determined by how many people might be upset by it!

I want everyone to be upset by the Holocaust and every other terrible event in history, no matter who caused it or when it happened. When my wife and I travelled, we visited Cambodia and when to S21 prison, I will never forget that day and think of it often as I sit in my lovely home, enjoying the freedom I have and the lack of death on my doorstep!

Always remember and never forget anything...good and bad.

David Milne, Gravesend, UK

I wonder when England will start to hide their glorious
occupations of half of Asis, Africa, the golden exploitations of
many countries their, of slavery , etc. The word colonialism
is of course a foreign word, and shall not be used again. It never happened .

Or - maybe that the holocaust was something not so strange to Britons, they have themselves executed not a few atrocities

bert L, K.S.,

I wonder if Taylor Hayes from Florida can appreciate the irony in their comment?

This is a story about the quality of Teaching, not about Muslims, or anyone else, trying to infiltrate our culture.

Lorna Fletcher, Milton Keynes, UK

I would like to see the response of the community if the school board had ruled that they should not teach about the Battle of Britain because some group thought it was unpleasant or offended them.

Lee Herman, Wellesley, MA

This is a prime example of the very obvious DUMBING DOWN of education.
So sad that this includes sucha dreadful event.
I know, maybe all the living skeletons dressed in rags, and the dead on the ground, were all actors and actresses.....
My old friend was one of the soldiers who entered the camps.
He said they all struggled to believe their eyes at the nightmarish sight sall around them.
It is important for older children to be made aware of events like these, if only to encourage them to feel compassion.
There is anti-semitism in government, and I strongly feel that this is where such decisions stem from.
I have, as a Christian, always felt puzzled that the race whose family values are uppermost in their culture, are the ones who are targeted. Very sad.

H.A., Blackpool, england

RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!! Next we won't be able to sneeze in a classroom or at a concert because someone's religion doesn't believe in making noise...

Tell the Muslims to get a grip. they don't have to believe everything they hear or read .... no one else does.

Taylor Hayes, Florida

taylor hayes, Palm Harbor, FL, USA

I cannot believe that once again the hypocrasy in schools - and the education system - has taken policital correctness to this bizarre extreme. What on earth is up with this country these days? It seems to me that shop keepers are afraid to put up Christmas decorations, play christmas music and now - we are ostracising History for the sake of 'over sensitive' souls and their cultures. Hang on what's wrong with this picture? Well... This is the United Kingdom people and everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. Personally I think it's do-gooders who are to blame and not the people 'certain races, and religions' that are actually complaining. We need to hear about 'all' historical errors in order to learn not to repeat them. So get your act together P.C obsessives - you are the ones who create racism, not help prevent it.

Samantha G, Manchester, United Kingdom

Yet another nail in the dumbing down of knowledge - and sadly, a victory for the BNP.
Children need to know about such horrific events at a reasonable age, how else will they learn about co-relating with others, and the most important thing. in this world......compassion.

The british and american soldiers who first entered the camps to see living skeletons, were scarred by this dreadful experience, something, I was told by one, they struggled to believe.
My old friend said he could not take in the dead and dying all around him.
I think there are more holocaust deniers than we think in high places, wielding inlfuence on important decisions.

H.A., Blackpool,

What about the Jewish people who are offended by this? Do we not count? And not only the Jewish people, but the brave soldiers (who were not Jewish) who risked their lives to liberate the camps? Does that mean they sacrificed themselves for nothing? Does that mean that their descendents can't now be proud of them becuase they fought for something that "didn't happen"? Has the Government actually sanctioned this? It's ridiculous.

Amanda F, Manchester, England

How RiDICULOUS!!

I stand up for the millions that were persecuted or killed in the holocast, I believe that it is most important part of history, it should be told, taught and learnt from.

SUCH FACTUAL EVENTS SHOULD NEVER BEEN SHOVED UNDER THE CARPET AS NEVER EXISTED,

Children are are future, how will they learn if they are not taught, History is there for us all to learn from.

How ignorant are we as a society to take this out of our teaching curriculm. This issue should be challenged immediately!!

rosalind crown, monmouthshire,

a horrible thing. really surprised that of all places, England has chosen to go to this extent let alone even question the Holocaust-----I am a Jew (in America) and I take this as extremely offensive- and just flat out stupid. how did this policy get so far as to actually be implemented????

There is a Hitchcock directed film - you can find this very graphic film on google video- of unreleased and uncut BRITISH footage of the concentration camps filmed towards the end of the war.

How is this decision justified? Their reasoning is just so over the top, mind boggling! I don't understand. I cannot believe the Department of Education - a group of EDUCATED people are serious. they areflat out wrong are choosing to ignore proven history and not teach children the lessons we have to learn from the Holocaust in order to become more tolerant. Right now, every member of authority in Britain is accepting and fueling intolerance if they don't step up right now. wow

Lauren T, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Cowards! Just as "multi-culturalism" is another not so sublte phrase for the denial and destruction of the founding principles of the western world this policy is another step toward the revision of history. Muslim countries do not allow outsiders to dictate their teachings. It is tragic that their once great civilizations hungering for knowledge and leading scientific advances dictate a policy of ignorance for all. We are destroying ourselves. When will we learn?

D Finkler, Westwood, NJ/USA

Aren't you offending the ~16 Million people that died in the Holocaust and all their descendants? What kind of stupid excuse to hide something so well documented as the Holocaust?
Aren't you offending the Germans if you teach WWI and WWII? Do not teach it! Aren't you offending the Frenchs if you teach Waterloo? Do not teach it!
Come on! Are we educating or what?

Mark, newark, delaware

So, we are to be given a new history. I wonder what history the Tavistock Institue will be advocating for us, I can't wait.

Adrian Peirson, Luton, UK Beds

The Muslim world does not have much knowledge of European history, they will admit it. When Muslims come to the West to learn history, why are we now supressing part of it because they teach it differently in a region long isolated from our history. This does not promote understanding, but instead enforces ignorance. It replaces factual history in favour of conspiracies taken from forged anti-semetic documents debunked almost a century ago.

It's a sad world when facts become so offensive we scrap them altogether.

M. G., Sudbury, Canada

Those who ignore historical facts are deemed to be the cause of history repeating itself. Different cultures, communities and religions will differ; how does NOT teaching something NOT offend anyone, it offends the memory of the people who suffered and died in the Holocaust! How about the relatives of all those multi millions, of many countries, cultures and creeds, that died in the Holocaust; who are still alive and still suffer today, do their feelings not come into the equation? I can 100% guaranty they will be offended! All this rubbish that the Islamic people deny the Holocaust ever occurred, historical fact that we know happened is fact, hiding historical facts from children is not teaching our children anything, EXCEPT TO BE DECEIPTFUL, everyone knows this to be absolutely wrong. The type of people, who perpetrate this poor manner of teaching, by omission, should themselves be punished. John F. UK.

John Furley, Sedbury / Chepstow, UK

This is my second writing, after reading 'Have your say' from a teacher: Quote: "Florida72, Orlando, Florida, USA"; who described teaching the Holocaust subject to a class as "disheartening and terribly, terribly scary"; you should be ashamed of yourself, you call yourself a teacher, I have seen more guts come from a childrens kinder garden attendee. You should be control of the class, not the class in control of you. If you cannot teach the truth, get out of teaching, you are not any good to anyone if you don't believe youi should teach the true version of the Holocaust to your pupils; Scary or not! This why the situation has arisen in the first instance, because of weak people like you! John F. UK

John Furley, Sedbury / Chepstow, UK

I have lost members of my family is diverse conflicts, and belong to a richly varied tree... Knowledge has always been my friend and my support. I feel for the children of those "well intentioned teachers".
If the intention of schools is to provide the best instruction and education, how can choosing the bits we teach be an option? You cannot pretend to give the students a partial version of knowledge, and then have them give educated visions of the world around them, and how it got to be what it is! It would be like feeding a child only chips and then have the child understand what made him/her obese...

Deborah Méndez-Blaauw, New Westminster, BC, Canada

Having many German relatives who died in the Holocaust and being a gay man (also a minority that was due to be exterminated) I am quite shocked that the British government would rewrite history by omission.

This is such a dishonor to all those poor souls who were killed and to those who fought so bravely to bring order back in to a chaotic world.

I am hoping that those in power will find their spine and moral compass and change this decision.

Dave Maier, Minneapolis, MN, USA

I am as concerned about revisionist history as I am about PC based cirriculum. I fear that the catchy phrase The Holocaust is being used more and more to describe the selective extermination of 6 million Jews in Concentration Camps instead of the the more accurate extermination of about 16 millions Jews, Christians, Gypsies, Poles, Homosexuals and Communists. The systematic and industrialized slaughter that was emplaced by Himmler, Hitler and others should be taught as what it was, the abomination of humanity that included others races and religions as well as Jewish victums. This part of history needs to be well remembered, but remembered accurately. I fear that in just a few generations only the extermination of the Jews will be spoken of, and the horrible larger scale genocide of non-Jews will have no voice. Every time someone speaks of six million dead - remind them that the true number was almost double that of non-Jews.

Andre', Miami, US, FL

Is this true or is it some teachers in some schools.we must never forget the Holocaust. As we should remember the victims and their families especially as we approach Rmemberance Day. Also it is one of the most documented facts in modern history. One of the reasons we learn from history is so that we will not repeat the mistakes of the past .as a nation in the past we were very slow to speak out about the concentration camps. If we had been quicker to act many Jewish lives would have been saved. So it would be to our national shame to deny the Holocaust. Which would in itself be an act of evil.
I am not Jewish.
Yours sincerely
Bill Ducker

Bill Ducker, Nottingham, England

I'll quote a great hip hop band (PE No.1) who had a lot of sense saying: "history shouldn't be a mistery our story is real history, not 'his story'...". As applied in there to the afro-american people, it can easily be transposed to any ethnical group's history. The holocaust DID happen and is part of our modern history, if not THE turning point of our modern world, and if some people still belong to some dark-age world, they should not prevent us to enlighten our kids'minds... Unfortunately, one of the ever best-selling books in the arab world for more than 50 years is the forged 'protocol of the elders of sion' which was first celebrated then demystified by the Times magazine in the 20's... Hopefully, the truth always comes out at last...
UK react! Don't get spoilt by islamo-negationnism. Act for the sake of mankind's freedom. Lord Churchill wouldnt have let that voluntary amnesia happen after so many sacrifices by your noble country.

David M, Paris, France

My Mother was born in Scotland! She died in 1963. I'm glad she died before she heard this STUPID thought! I do believe that u.k. has lost it's marbles! Who will save their --------next time?????
Maybe someone will remember all of the American lives that were spent to save the U.K.!!!!!!!!!!! But America being the nation that it is, will be the country that will save it next time!

Alex Rabitaille, Ft. Pierce, Florida USA

Can this be true? British schools are dropping a major piece of modern history because they don't want to offend Islamists who choose to deny the reality of one of the most well-documented events in the world's history? Perhaps U. S. schools should stop teaching about Britain's courage in World War II. Britain's courage has obvously flown out the window. This is contemptible.

Ruth H. Chapman, DENVER, Colorado/USA

As a concerned individual, I will start by boycotting anything British. Next, I will contact my elected representatives to make statements defending decency. That used to be what the U.S. stands for.

Michael, Burien, Washington

What kind of democracy does England have? They get to choose as to what occured in history? To me it says that England may be blind as to whether the holocaust was real. My goodness, if they don't want to offend the students, are they going to remove details on how they lossed to the United States?

Merle, Woodhaven, NY, USA

Don't teach the truth because it offends? Revisionist history certainly offends me and I'm sure it would be offensive to my ancestors who were thrown into ovens and tortured because of their religion. I'm sure they would find it offensive to have their babies grabbed out of their arms and used for experimentation to see how long it would take them to bleed to death if their arms and legs were amputated while they were alive. It is EXTREMELY offensive to those who can still remember their grandparents relating their first hand horrific experiences to have those lives lost simply for their religious beliefs erased because it might be "offensive" to someone who can't face reality...even if it is ugly as all intelligent people must do.

Janet Maday, Belle haven, USA/virginia

The decision to do this is preposterous. Our world is so concerned about who we offend and what we say about others that we are essentially giving up ourselves and our freedom to just be human. If we keep succumbing to Islam, what will the world be like in 10 even 20 years? Should we stop teaching that American fought against the British so we could have our freedom? No, it's a part of history and needs to be taught no matter who it offends. How much more will we change ourselves and our beliefs because it offends another race or religion? Yes, maybe democracy is not perfect but it was built for freedom of all people, not matter what race or religion you are. To those this offends...if you don't like what a democracy teaches or has as it's principles, then you need to go back where you came from. I hope England doesn't give into anything else because if they keep changing over minute things like that, they will soon take a downward spiral and then where do you stop?

A Beckman, Phoenix, USA/AZ

You can't give up history. The threats that teachers experience may be because of the way of telling it. Through history we can at last learn the facts as they happened, and that is wonderfull, because not politically sensitive.
Please find a way to teach it well, because we all at least want to know why, regardless of the current hypes.

Sophie Diatchenko, zeist, Netherland

Over two hundred years ago Ben Franklin said: "He who gives up a little liberty for security deserves neither liberty not security".

How emphatic do you think he would be today? Read Marcus Luttrell's book: Lone Survivor. Mr. Luttrell is a Navy Seal and represents the sharp point of our fight for freedom. Given the sacrifices of all thowse like him, the least we could do is cash in the chips of freedom they shed blood for us to hold and use.

David S., Longboat Key, Florida

David Siegal, Longboat Key, Florida

This decision is unbelievably offensive, not only to the Jewish community, but to all who savor education .
Teaching hisotical FACTS to educate so that these horrific events are not repeated is not offensive, it is essential!
Muslims who may be offended should take note - the holocaust was an attempt to erase European Jewry - it is fact, and must not be ignored. I wonder why the Muslim community isn't offended by extemists call to annhilate Israel, and all of Western culture. Perhaps the "moderates" slhould confront their own.
Is England becoming a Muslim state? Where is your sense of morality and desire to stand up for what's right?
Brits should speak loudly against this ridiculous decision. Those making it should be ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES!
I will think more than twice about visiting England and supporting the country until I become conviced that it is not succumbing to the strong armed tactics of the Muslim lobby and stands on solid principle.

Steven Hoffman, Pittsburgh PA

Steven Hoffman, Pittsburgh, PA USA

I think this is an outrage!
In years to come will we not teach children in our schools about the war in Iraq as it may cause offence to other ethnic groups??
This is getting beyond a joke now, this is the history of the world and a world that our parents and grandparents lived in, why deny children to learn about what their ancestors did for the sake of upsetting Muslims.

Emma, haifa,

"In particular settings, teachers of history are unwilling to challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship."

This is only part of a very disturbing trend in western society, where education takes a back seat to ethnic or religious principle.

This is not unlike many US states, in which creationism must be taught as part of the science curriculum and evolution is considered a "debate."
The major difference in this scenario is that, in the UK, won't even bother to mention the facts at all! Countless English students will graduate not even knowing that these major world events took place. What a sad statement, indeed.

Shame on the Department of Education for implementing this absurdity and shame on the people-- who have stood idly by to let it take place.

Since when did the requirement not to offend supercede the proper education of citizens?

Alex, Toronto, Canada

I have always been proud to be English, until today when I read this article. Deciding not to teach subjects our of fear of causing offence belittles and degrades the teaching profession. Education is supposed to provide a window to society's past as well as a strong foundation on which to build society's future. Not teaching subjects because they're controversial or difficult insutls the pupils who sit in the classroom. The joy I found in history was the exposure to ideas, thoughts and facts that I hadn't been aware of and seeing how they fit into the complex puzzle that led to our present. If you don't have the courage to teach history (ALL of it), whether pleasant or not then you should move on.

Julia , West Hills, CA/USA

I'm not sure I understand why Muslims should be offended by the Holocust. They did not committ the atrocities. They were minor characters in WWII. In the aftermath, they tried to destroy Israel in three dirrerent wars. Each time, the Jews offered back land they claimed in trade for peace. Each time, they were rejected. If that offends any Muslim, then they should be offended more that their bretheren support the destruction of Israel. All this is disconected from the Holocust. As countries who support democracy, as flawed as it may be, we should support the Aussies, "Take it or leave it." It does not say in our constitution all new citizens have the right to come to this country and demand we change our ways to accomadate your needs. These are multicultural nations that try to respect all of its citizens equally, for better or worse. If you can't except that premise, go back to a nation that is still living up to your religious sensibilities and existing in the 9th century!

Greg, San Francisco, United States

British research groups chose to no longer exchange research and development information with the Israeli academic community in attempting to please the Muslim miinority in the UK. Certainly a loss for Britian and Israel. Shamefully, now Britian cowers to the Muslim minority in a further attempt to appease Islam. Perhaps the British should note the policies of the Australians,....."adopt to our ways, while still retaining your religion, or leave".

As for me, I will no longer buy any goods made in the UK nor, will I travel again on its soil.......I will, furthermore, make known to others England's offensive policies and, ask their support, shunning travel in the UK and boycotting English products.

God save England (from Islam)!

A. Samuels, Prescott, AZ

Nothing surprises whatsoever in this country now riven with political correctness. This move, if carried out, is utterley sickening. No wonder so many people feel compelled to leave the country. What an insult to those who perished in the Holocaust, but we musn't upset the minority groups. As for the Crusades, I don't suppose many people remember them.
The trouble is that this government is full of hand-wringing lsh apologists who think and would like to believe, that their hypocritical policies "not to cause offence" will change things.!

I have to agree with.Etty Bernatzy and his comments on Orwell's writings. One is fighting a losing battle and at times I feel ashamed to call myself British.

P.M. Quintero, Fleet, Hampshire

shocked & disappointed
you do not have the backbone to stand up to the truth?
remond to avoid great britain if i ever go to europe

marsha, arlington va, usa

Teachers should be objective in what they teach. There is no historian of any credibility who will deny that the Holocaust took place during World War II and that between four and six million Jews were killed. Teachers don't and shouldn't say whether they believe that the Jewish people should or should not have been given a piece of British controlled Palestine because of sympathy for the Jewish people's suffering during the Holocaust. The occurrence of the Holocaust is undeniably an objective fact. Whether the British should have partitioned Palestine between the Jews and Arabs is arguable and should be discussed. The United Kingdom is definitely walking on a slippery slope by eliminating one of the key events of world history in the 20th century by eliminating the Holocaust from history books. As Adolph Hitler noted in Mein Kampf, who remembers the hundreds of thousands of Armenians that were killed by the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the 19th century?

Nathan Gilbert, Atlanta, Georgia USA

I wonder if the British teachers and Board of Education realize that by "dropping" teaching about the holocaust they also drop teaching about England's suffering during these years and about England's heroes who gave their lives to protect their country from Hitler and his cohorts. These are sad times indeed when George Orwell’s "1981" is being turned into reality only here instead of the communists rewriting history it is the Muslims who do it. England should remember that England belongs to the British people not to its Muslim guests.

Etty Benartzy, Miami, Florida USA

As usual, the Euros back down to pressure. Did they not learn anyting during WWII.

Clay Eiland, Dallas, TX

This from the country of my ancestors and the backbone of United States' history/democracy? The world being terrorized/coerced by religious fanatisim. We can live in harmony until the religious fanatics become part of a country's government, then the transformation begins to bury democracy and ONE GREAT RELIGION takes over the world by fear, browbeating and population numbers. Europeans are imigrating as more of their countries become terrorized and their governments ruled by RELIGION. Australia and New Zealand seem to be their destinay. Frightening, since these 2 countries were founded by the Unitied Kingdom! Where is the U.K's backbone - look to Australia and its government and learn from them! GOD BLESS AMERICA - THE LAST TRUE DEMOCRACY.

LLG, Washington, USA

Simply unacceptable and ridiculous!! Then again this from the same country that has allowed its own residents to protest in the street toting signs and slogans like "death to the west".

I am from Canada and it is actually a prosecutable crime here to deny the holocaust. I suggest the British authorities take note should the teachers not be in a position to "challenge highly contentious or charged versions of history in which pupils are steeped at home, in their community or in a place of worship”.

D Dawg, Vancouver , Canada

Since when are historical facts a cause for offence?
How about dropping History as a subject? No one will get offended. Use the spare hours to teach Islam and the Koran - it seems England is on the way to adopt it.

Michael Lazarus, Atlit, Israel

What next ? The denial of 9/11 ? replacing the Gideon Bible with copies of the Koran. If teachers believe that teaching true history to our future generations is contoversial...then they should take up another profession. My family..all jewish, have been British subjects for about 200 years. Some of them died fighting for this country. There were some of my family who died in concentration camps in Europe. But to spare the feelings of those who have been here for 50 years at the most, future generations are not going to be taught of the sufferings.
The jewish people are not looking for pity.....the time for pity has well past...but for recognition for the sake of history, so that the future world will know. ONLY our teachers can do this.

Gerry Myers, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom

If schools are to avoid offending anyone, then the Japanese actions during World War II should be avoided, as should the enslavement of blacks in the USA, South African history and all other actions which indict human kind. That way, we can repeat these tragedies and believe that we were the first to do so.

bruce cohen, Albany, USA

History speaks its own truth. To deny it is to deny reality. When one denies reality that's insanity. Welcome to the "Snakepit."

Bob Gee, Lakewood, WA, USA

Teach Nonviolent Communication (a form of communication developed by Dr. Marshal Rosenberg) in schools. Then children and teachers will not need to be afraid of bringing up differences of opinions.

Liora Claff, Lismore, NSW Australia

Why should learning about the Holocaust offend Muslims. Muslims were hardly touched by it -- while it raged.
However, there is a reason why many Muslims might be offended. They don't like the sympathy that the Jews got after the Holocaust. The events that unfolded in its aftermath led to the creation of the State of Israel. The Arab world tried to eradicate Israel at its inception and failed. There is still a large part of the Arab world hell-bent on this quest. Israel's destruction has been taken on by other mighty Islamic nations -- notably Iran which is on the threshold of acquiring nuclear weapons. How will Britain teach its pupils after Iran obliterates Israel? Will Britain avoid hurting Islamic Iran's sensitivities? Of course Britain will. So will the rest of the free world, which should be praying -- that either the USA or tiny Israel itself will knock out Iran's nuclear capability. If this doesn't happen, humanity will enter its darkest age.

Ralph Dobrin, Jerusalem, Israel

I do not blame the muslim people for what our own government are doing. Our government is just that OUR government so why change the national curriculum? It is political correctness gone mad! Our children from all cultures and backgrounds have the right to know the truth about all history. I do agree that this is our country and we should not conform to all, if people are that unhappy they should then make a choice to return to their country of origin.

SJ.Bell, Blythewood, USA Yes, I reside in Turkey at present and they have Christian churches etc. They also have topless sunbathing on the beach and drinking alcohol is freely available in the many bars, restaurants and night clubs. Not all muslim countries are like that of Iran or Iraq so lets not all tar them with the same brush until we know all the facts!

Again it is our weak government that have agreed to this and in my view the education minister has a lot to answer for.

Kate Wheeler, MuÄŸla, Turkey

So, we cater to the Muslims again. Am I the only one who can see the danger, and double standard here? Do Muslims cater to Christians in their country? Have you ever heard of any Muslim acquiescing to Christians? If you don't want to learn and live in an essentially christian community - then find another Muslin country. We do not want to be converted - we don't care if you are offended - why? Because you CHOSE to come here. When I can wear short sleeves and drink alcohol in a Muslim country then that will even up the stakes and you can start demanding rights. Until then, ASSIMILATE or go home.

SJ.Bell, Blythewood, USA

At what point do we cater to political correctness and remove all information offensive to anyone? I am offended that Muslims, or anyone else, come to an essentially Christian land and attempt to foist their sensitivities on that culture. Why even come? If it 's that offensive, stay in your own country or another Muslim one! In catering to people who are "offended" we deeply offend those who fought in WWII (my parents)and those who died, which included many religions.

Teach the facts - like them or not they are history. If you are offended, then take your child elsewhere to be taught. Facts are facts - don't distort them for the sake of a few people who are trying to foist their beliefs on to others.

I am so sick and tired of people who immigrate and then try to foist their religion and land on their adopted country. You either like the new country or you don't. You have choices - adapt, assimilate or move to one that suits you better.

Sandra, Columbia, USA

If someone is offended by facts that have happened in the past, perhaps our education system is removing the wrong thing. Perhaps we should remove those that are not intelligent enough to learn from the mistakes of the past. Those that are so closed minded and retarded should not be afforded the luxury of what our past has brought us today. By learning from the mistakes of the past we have progressed to where we are today.
Granted we have far to go, but until we acknowledge the past and the mistakes we will never progress further.
I would make the observation that our muslim neighbors have much to learn from the past and have exhibited little ability to do so. With a dark ages outlook and a retarded mindset there is very little hope they will ever learn from their continual cultural mistakes.

Charles, London, United Kingdom

Britain suffered so much during the war against Hitler's nazis. Not only is it an affront to Holocaust victims, it is an affront to those brave Britans who suffered through horrendous bombings and heroically held out - alone for a time - against the Nazis.

On the other hand let's not go over board with outrage. As the article states. These few teachers themselves need to be educated. Remember that many are not much more than kids themselves and may not have a grasp on the significance of the Holocaust.

Ultimately, for all it's horrors, the Holocaust is the best lesson humanity has to teach us about our potential for evil, especially if we ignore the lesson.

Chuck , Buffalo, USA

The Holocuast was terrible and althought people might not like learning about it, they need to. I'm am just a student of Highschool but i think it is the most terrible thing i have ever heard. And i'm sorry if it 'Offends" Muslims. But its an important part of History.

Are we going to take out things about the Civil War (Meaning the topic of Slavery, i know that slavery was not the main reason) but are we just going to take it out of the textbooks because we are in fear that it is going to offend the black community? Or even the white community for that matter. The Holocaust happened whether you like it or not. Even though some Germans (not all) deny the fact that it ever happened they took pictures, videos, and recordings. How do you explain that. "Um yes it happened but i dont want to offend anyone" are you kidding me? There will always be something that some one says that is going to offend. This is a piece of History, that needs to be respected.

Katelyn, O'Fallon , Missouri

We must LEARN from past events, or the horrors can simply repeat themselves. And we shouldn't be blaming the descendents of Adolph Hitler and the descendents of the Crusaders for what those people did long ago. The current school-kids didn't do those things! But they should learn from them, just as all the rest of us should.

Robert Powers, Westcliffe, Colorado

When did we start limiting our histiry if it offends a few? We must never forget our past and it must be taught to future generations. It conjurs up horrendous memories, however we must learn this and never repeat it. Americas history slaves is sad, but part of our history and it is still taught.
If the teachers are too stupid to know what when on in history and they choose not to teach it--then retire. Find another job, because educating todays yourht is more important now than it has ever been.
---been all over and still learning

Kerrie, Oxford, USA Mississippi

How does this offend Muslims? They had nothing to do with the Holocaust, did they?

bwing55543, Edison,

The holocaust of the Jewish people in the second WW, is the greatest crime of the modern history ever.
Therefore, it must be teached and remembered in every place and untill the end of time.
Especially in these days, while the Iranian dictator repeats again and again his promise to inihilate Israel from the earth.
Learning about the holocaust can not offence anyone, since it is the greatest crime against humanity.

love and peace .

nir , Tel Aviv , israel

Why in the world should "children from certain races or religions" - I assume that means Muslims - be offended by learning about the Holocaust?

Eitan, Haifa, Israel

This is a way to lose a battle, not to win it,
You cannot drop such subjects from history,
Wrong choice!

Joe, berlin,

England has become a joke!!!!!!!!!!!
Soon the muslims will take over London!
Then what?????????

Sean, Shannon,

Those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it.

Christine Carter, Springfield, MO, USA

After all the Britain went through in WW II to stop Hitler and his madness, it simply astounds me that you can just forget all about that to appease some narrow minded groups. Political correctness has been out of hand for some time now but this is just insane. Where is Churchill when you need him?

Sunny, seattle, Washington, USA

If the truth offends Muslims then so be it. Truth is more important than any religion ! Political correctness and fear of Muslims seems to be running rampant in England and old Neville Chamberlain must be dancing a jig !! Shame on you England !

Paul, Charleston, South Carolina / USA

Shame on you Britain

Stan, Chicago, USA

As a non Jewish Canadian I am appalled at this form of holocaust denial.

Pat Alcock, Huntsville, Ontario

I just cannot believe that because of peoples beliefs that a part of history can be removed and denied, it DID happen so why is it censored, why is it offensive to certain religions? Does that mean that history is NOT historical because it is offensive? If that is happening, how can we teach our children history...call the class "Inoffensive History of the world" I just cannot believe that this is happening to the world...

Anita, Bellevue, USA

Haing lived in the middle east for several years, I cannot understand why one or a group to concerned with sensitivity toward a group that kills to spread religion. Fact the fact, the holocaust did occur. The British are getting as bad as the French and attempting to deny history or revise it. How can the English be so "correct" in doing the dastardly deed.

Msgr. Weldon Bowling, OSB, Harker Heights, USA/Texas

I am an english literature student in Tel Aviv university.
I really didn't believe it was possible to drop out the Holocaust studies in England's school till I read this article and the responses of the people. I am ashamed and mostly, disappointed that while I read the greatest pieces of English Literature, students in England, avoid of talking about murder of my family in Ukraine some less than 60 years ago in Babi Yar and Odessa.
Read this quote by Martin Luther King JR:
“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”
I beliebe the silence now will cause another tragedy.

Hanna, Maalot, Israel

What point is there to teach history if it's censored/omitted rather than being acknowledged? I'd like to believe the teachers are capable of figuring out how to tell history (which is supposed to be an objective profession) without offending anyone. Besides, such a conclusion is really offensive for a lot of others (anyone who has sensitivity to the issue of holocaust)

Itai C, Kiryat Haim, Israel

As a teacher in Sweden I find this sort of cowardice among teachers rather worrying. What's even more worrying is that I think we already have tendencies like these in Sweden too, just like they probably exist in several other countries.
I would also like people to read the message above from the 14 year old student from Dubai, who feels that Muslims should not be blamed for this.

Jonas Sundberg, Stockholm, Sweden

The question is: are we here to educate the youth, so that they can make informed decisions on their own, or are we here to cater to the prejudices and beliefs of each. At one time, it was the Catholic church one had to be careful not to offend, now it is someone else...Speaking truth can be done in a compassionate way, it needs not offendinng anyone. Education is about opening the mind and offering different point of view.

Tamara Messenger, San Diego, USA, CA

we can alsow drop the american history -the muslems will love it! dont worry, the british royalty history is next.
you can`t delete 6 millions couse someone will be affended. but dont forget-you could be deleted as well.

keren, haifa, israel

Does the interest justified to deform the sad history and surender to the arab pression ???

Felix Dahan, Ashdod, Israel

Who exactly is offended by teaching about the holocaust? Are you saying that muslim students are offended because they may come from a background that denies the holocaust? Well done! you are breeding a new generation of Holocaust deniers that can join Ahmadinijad . I wonder where the British ministry of education is.

Dave, ny,

Why stop at history lessons? If we're censoring educational content that may offend certain individuals then why not drop the sciences altogether? The theory of evolution? Can't have creationists taking offence! Safe sex? Far too much controversy there, bin it!
When you begin stripping anything that could ever offend from the history books you’ll be left with nothing. History is conflict; great and terrible events that have shaped society into the form we have today.

Edward Reade, London,

"Political Correctness" is another way of saying mediocrity, stupidity and cowardliness. The Department for Education should also drop educating students about the War of Independence that created the United States, after all, it might offend a few Brits. And what about the history of slavery, and the civil war, it might offend human beings!? Damn it! Take the moral highground and a strong leadership position, don't let a few whiners and manipulators detract from the truth and a proper education. These students are our future leaders and voters...don't lead them down the path of distortion.

Gary Levin, Marin County, California

Why would you want to censor history? History is full of wars where one side wins and the other side loses. We don't stop teaching about WWII because Germans might take offense because they lost. By the same reason, you should stop teaching about the holocaust just because some people get offended by the subject. Remember that saying that goes something like, "if we don't learn from our mistakes we are bound to repeat them."

Dave, Davis, California, USA

J. Allen Strople, London, Ontario, Canada

A brilliant person, I am jewish and couldn't have said better myself. At least this time a muslim and a jew agree!

To not teach certain subjects because of the ignorance being instilled by some parents on their children is nothing more than wrong! Plain and simple.

Haven't we all had to give up enough already?

Let's stop being scared

Dave, Vancouver, Canada

I am 14 years old and i am currently learning about both the world wars at school. Before I even knew there was an official taboo on the holocaust I wondered why when learning the what were 'most important causes of world war 2 and why?' there was NO mention of the holocaust or even of jews?! Wasn't this the one of the main REASONS and the object of Hitler's attention? It's just completely ridiculous and stupid. It's re-writing history - and for what? No reason at all. I am saying this because yes, i am a muslim but i don't recall muslims having to do anything with it really do you? All these comments are blaming all muslims for saying it was a hoax. That really makes me upset. Stop grouping us all together, please. Perhaps that's only with a certain type of muslim, who knows? Just because you and I know they are completely wrong - stop blaming me too. To the woman who said all muslim countries were trying to say it was fake i'm sorry but that is utter deception. I should know...

A.N, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

This is a sad commentary on the country that brought us the Magna Carta the British