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Student tells Vernonia board he never learned Holocaust/genocide history; cites SB 664
Summary
A Vernonia high school student, Elam Saloa, urged the board to ensure Holocaust and genocide instruction required by Senate Bill 664 is taught; he said he had to seek that knowledge himself and asked the district to act urgently.
At the start of public comment, student Elam Saloa told the Vernonia School District 47J board that he has attended Vernonia schools since kindergarten and has never learned about the Holocaust or other genocides in class.
"I have never learned about the Holocaust or other genocides in my school," Saloa said, referencing Senate Bill 664 (passed in 2019) and noting the law required implementation by the 2020–21 school year. He told the board that students need instruction on past and present genocides so they understand "why it's important to stand up against injustice." The board asked staff to gather information and provide an update at the next meeting.
Board members acknowledged the request and asked administration to report back at the next meeting with information about implementation status and any gaps the district should address.
