Texas School District Official To Teachers: Balance Holocaust Books With ‘Opposing’ Views

A top administrator with the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake, Texas, is under fire after advising teachers last week to present “opposing” viewpoints if they are going to provide books to their students about the Holocaust, according to an audio recording obtained by NBC News.

Gina Peddy, the Carroll school district’s executive director of curriculum and instruction, made the remarks Friday afternoon during a training session that was called in response to a parent’s complaint about a fourth-grade teacher who had an anti-racism book in her classroom.

“Just try to remember the concepts of [House Bill] 3979,” Peddy said in a recording taken secretly by a Carrol staff member, referring to a new Texas law that requires teachers to present multiple perspectives when discussing “widely debated and currently controversial” issues.

“And make sure that if you have a book on the Holocaust, that you have one that has an opposing, that has other perspectives,” Peddy continued.

“How do you oppose the Holocaust?” one teacher said in response.

“Believe me,” Peddy said. “That’s come up.”

In a statement to NBC News, Carroll spokeswoman Karen Fitzgerald said the district “recognizes that all Texas teachers are in a precarious position with the latest legal requirements” in regards to the new state law and an updated version that will go into effect in December, Texas Senate Bill 3.

“Our purpose is to support our teachers in ensuring they have all of the professional development, resources and materials needed. Our district has not and will not mandate books be removed nor will we mandate that classroom libraries be unavailable,” Fitzgerald said, adding that “teachers who are unsure about a specific book “should visit with their campus principal, campus team and curriculum coordinators about appropriate next steps.”