A controversial assignment given by a Californian school board is to be revised after widespread criticism.

It asks eighth grade (13-14 year old) students to examine a variety of sources and decide whether or not the Holocaust was “merely a political scheme created to influence public emotion and gain". The document, sourced by the San Bernardino Sun, reads:

“When tragic events occur in history, there is often debate about their actual existence. For example, some people claim the Holocaust is not an actual historical event, but instead is a propaganda tool that was used for political and monetary gain.”

Students are provided with three online sources, one of which claims that the Holocaust was “a profitable hoax" and asked to provide an argument and rebut counter-arguments.

A local chapter of Anti-Defamation League condemned the assignment on Friday, with director Matthew Friedman writing that it has “no academic value; it only gives legitimacy to the hateful and anti-Semitic promoters of Holocaust denial."

The exercise is part of the new Common Core programme, which aims to encourage critical thinking and letting students come to their own conclusions.

Though the Rialto school board claims not to have received any complaints from parents, it plans to revise the assignment.

Syeda Jafri, a district spokeswoman told KTLA news: “This was a mistake. It should be corrected. It will be corrected. We all know it was real. The Holocaust is not a hoax... I believe our classroom teachers are teaching it with sensitivity and compassion.”