\n<\/p>\n
The\u00a0largest school district in Virginia will allow students to skip a presentation from a Holocaust survivor, saying the diverse district includes students with \u201cdifferent experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that all students have different experiences. If you prefer to opt your child out from participating in this presentation, please email your child\u2019s history teacher and they will be provided an alternate assignment. Please email your child\u2019s history teacher with any questions that you may have,\u201d a letter from Cooper Middle School in Fairfax, Virginia said.<\/p>\n
The letter referred to a scheduled presentation from a Holocaust survivor to seventh-graders, according to Adele Scalia, a mother of one of the students.<\/p>\n
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) claimed it is advertising an opt-out for the benefit of Jews.<\/p>\n
\u201cEach year, Cooper MS invites a Holocaust survivor to speak with students to affirm meaningful learning experiences that increase representation of all identity groups that are essential to student learning. Some Jewish students have previously expressed discomfort while engaging in dialogue around this visit. For that reason, school leadership makes every effort to partner with families of these students, who are 12 and 13 years old, to keep them informed. This opt-out allows the family the opportunity to make the best informed decision on behalf of their student,\u201d the district said.<\/p>\n
Scalia said on social media that she is drawing \u201cless charitable (but more likely) conclusions.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the email had said \u2018We understand that some students are very sensitive and Mrs. X\u2019s stories my be disturbing and traumatizing to them\u2026\u2019 I would have given them the benefit of the doubt. But it didn\u2019t,\u201d Scalia wrote.<\/p>\n