New law makes Oklahoma City bombing a part of state’s school curriculum

It was a dark part of the nation’s and Oklahoma’s history, but a new state law will ensure Oklahoma public school students learn about the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. While the state’s schools already teach about the terror attack on the federal building by Timothy McVeigh, the new law, at the request of families of the victims, is intended to make certain that will always be the case.

The new law directs the State Board of Education to incorporate information about the bombing into the Oklahoma history social studies core curriculum. “Although the events of April 19, 1995, are indelibly etched in the minds of so many Oklahomans, most of today’s school children were not even born when that day dramatically changed our history,” said Gov. Brad Henry during a ceremonial bill signing at the Oklahoma City National Memorial. “It is essential for them and the generations of students that follow to learn the significance of this horrific event just as they learn about other important events in this great state’s history. We owe it to the victims, the survivors and all of the people touched by this tragic event to remember April 19 and understand what it meant and still means to this state and this nation.”

The new law will not become effective until July 1, but memorial officials said educators can receive curriculum material at any time by contacting the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum at 405-235-3313 or visiting www.okcnationalmemorial.org. “We are obviously thrilled with the governor’s support and appreciate legislators’ dedication to ensuring this significant part of our state’s history is taught for many years to come,” said Kari Watkins, executive director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. “We look forward to working with the State Department of Education in providing the appropriate resources to history teachers so they can teach the important lessons learned from the bombing.”

Read Henry’s press release on the new law.