In Great Britain they banned teaching about the Holocaust from their curriculum... in order to avoid offending those who do not believe it ever happened.

My friend sent me an e-mail showing graphic photos of concentration camp victims.  She doesn't want anyone to ever forget what happened.

I have distinct feelings about this topic... and I'd like to know how other teachers respond to it...  do you believe that we should teach about the Holocaust in our classrooms?  If so, what grade level?  limited information?  or detail?  photos?

If you already teach the events of the Holocaust, how do you tell your students about the atrocities?  What are their reactions?  What are your reactions?

Some teachers believe they would not be good at teaching this topic because they feel emotionally involved... is that an appropriate criteria for electing not to teach this subject? 

How would you respond if a parent asked you to teach their kid about the Holocaust?

Okay, so I just went to snopes/urban legends and it says that it isn't true...Great Britain has not banned teaching about the Holocaust in their schools.  (whew!)   But, I still want to know what others think about teaching this topic...

Thanx Joel, for weighing-in.  So, just because it is an emotional issue is no reason for us to avoid it... right?  

One other thing though... does slavery, 9/11, and Pearl Harbor have the same impact as the Holocaust?  Hiroshima and Nagasaki, too, do they have the same impact?

Just wondering...

If it's important enough to upset or anger some segment of the population, it's probably important enough to teach our students.

Very good post, all very good answers thus far.

I think I grew up somewhat 'protected' ~ no more so than the average lower-middle class kid, but, maybe, I was quite naieve... through my innocense I could not have imagined that human beings did cruel and horrific things to one another.   It just would never have occured to me.   So, when I found out about the Holocaust, and the things they did to the Jewish people.... my world crumbled.  I was upset to the extreme... lots of tears... and suddenly fear entered my world.  It was an abstract fear, not immediate, different than being afraid of The Bomb, which they were training us to hide beneath our desks from... this kind of fear gripped my heart... I think this was when I lost trust that humanity was basically good. 

How did it strike you others?  Was it so earth-shattering to you?

I believe that the Holocaust should be taught in schools in depth.  I also believe that it should be taught in 8th grade.  In addition, i believe that Slavery shoud be taught as well Middle Passage, and the burtality of it.  I believe American History should be taught to our students. I do not believe any form of that History should be excluded for the text books.  If we compare Holocaust it did not last 400 years of classical conditioning a people.  Holocaust for the Jew made them stronger and unified.  Slavery for African American created a people who did not know their history or heritage.  Slavery "Willie Lynch Theory" created disenfranchiement for African American people.  However, Holocaust create a Jewish nation that is almost rich in social status.  So, I do believe it should be taught in schools. 

Arkansas Annie,

I think you are right...Why hide the truth about History.  However, tell all history not one select people per se History.  We talk about Native Americans, we should talk about Jewish people, we should talk about Africa in a whole.  This country is seen by many Americans as a jungle...However, it has cities an many resources to offer the World....

No one should keep History from students.  Again, I think it should be taught in school...

Again, I notice many are placing a big emphasis on the Holocaust....However, again let me educate you it was the worst destorying of people in a human society....Yet, I am a firm believer Jews profited from the Holocaust.  Many of them ban together to assure that nothing like this would ever happen again.  It created a unified front for them as a people. 

Yet, if we talk about the complete destorying of a a race "Slavery"....took people from their country unwillingley....force them to be slaves, changed their culture, history, it wiped out families, it created the worst classical conditioning I have ever seen in a racist of people. 

I am not for teaching the Holocaust and nothing else.  I am for teaching about Native Americans, Slavery, and the Holocaust.  Yet, why is it not in our school books?  Not sure why it is not in their but I am sure it was in our school books when I was growing up.  I do remember learning about the Holocaust and seeing it on T.V. just like Roots.

Hi KMfelder55,

I don't beieve that I truly understood the impact of slavery until I saw "Roots" (and sequels)...I cried so hard, my Mother had difficulty consoling me (and I was a teenager!)....Man's inhumanity to Mankind just blows my mind.   Why don't we "Love One Another"?  It is so much easier than hate.   Life is so much sweeter without the hatred, anger, violence, revenge, fear.... why do we cling to the negative?

I lived and worked in New Mexico where the impact of what white man did to Native Americans is strong....like the Blacks caught in slavery the Native Americans had their entire culture removed ~ families broken, language lost, culture decimated, land taken...now their population is so reduced that they may never have a voice in our culture.   At least the African Americans have banned together and created a voice that can be heard ~ loud and clear ~ do you consider this "profit"?

Perhaps, someday, we will create a society wherein every voice has weight and value, where mutual respect and acceptance is the standard.   When I start talking like this my Dad sneers at me and says that war is in human nature and it will never change.  I say it will never change unless there are those who dream it and voice it and create it....so I'm still beating my PEACE DRUM...

This is my final comment on this issue.  I think we all need to be on Meet the Press....

I believed Jews Profited....Keep in mind I believe in the Trinity God the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost.  Jews Profited from the Holocaust....why, Media is influenced by the Jews, Israel belongs to the Jews (against the wishes of a dominant country)ie Palenstine, the Jews have their own community, Jews money circles within that community three times before it every hits the economy,  Jews have their own banks, and other business.......I see this as a Profit!  Jews did suffer.

Now Native Americans have casino, many people Japanese have money and politicial influence, and other perks.  Yet, they did suffer!

If we look at African Americans we are not unified...When Barack Obama ran for President...it was not Blacks or African American people who jumped behind him whole heartly...Jessie Jackson nope....many other politican very skeptical......it was Whites and Jews.  You see African Americans as a unified front?  That makes me laugh....we can not put each other in the room and agree on things with some form of dysfunction.  I love African American's, I love Jews, White people, I love all people because God says to Love my Neighbor as myself.  Yet, my race has along way to go....Do some history check....African American people had more during the oppression then we do now...Why, their were not options we had to create our own business, we had to ban together, we are so free we forget.  If you ask the average African American child who is Martin Luther King....they might know....If you ask a Jewish child about the Holocaust they will be able to tell you...If you ask a Native American child about his hertiage he will be able to tell you.  Everything start from the home and the people! 

Hold on a minute there. Have you never even looked inside the cover of night?

Jews where taken from their homes as where blacks, tortured as were blacks.

killed as were blacks.  almost wiped out, as were the Indians.  I see you point and

I agree slavery should be in our curriculum and it is, BUT the holocaust should be

as well because if we do not know our history we are doomed to repeat it.  I don't

kow about anyone else, but I don't want to repeat none of the opions that we have talked

about.  As is known by now I am a bible thumper, but Indians have one of the highest

alacholic rates as well as one of the highest suicide rates in america. The Casinos

don't nulify that.  The Hebrews did benifit but look at the cost.  The Black's have MLK Jr,

Pres. Obama, Jesse Jackson, Malcom X, not to mention an entire month dedicated to

them. How have they not benifited?  All but one of my neighbors are black, and I love them

to death I would be there for them in a heart beat if they asked, but to say they

have not benifited from slavery in some way some form or some fassion I would

say would be a would be a miss play on words.  Would they rather be one the

contentant of Africa, and have all of the strikes against them before they are born.

Or would they rather be here where WE ARE EQUAL, and have the same chances

as a Bill Cosby or a George H. W. Bush.

Mr. Crisp,

To benefit from Oppression some form of wealthy for the people as a whole has to occur...some form of Financial gain and acknowledgement of the in humane treatment.  To say that we have leaders to represent our people is an understatement.  I would love to have fourty acres of land. 

Again, I will simply explain to you and understand me clearly.  400 years of oppression, plus classical conditioning that continues on in African Americans is awful. 

I am not lessening what happen to the Jews if you look at my last name and study you will see I might know their history far better than many. Yes, Indians have many, many issues.  However, many Indians can go to some colleges free or at a discounted rate.

African Americans are no more of a unified force to be reckon with....Yet, the Jews are!!! I bet none of you would get on television and say anything against their race of people.  You might end up off the television.  Jews are unified in everyway.  The oppression they received created an unbelieveable bond a cohesiveness.  It is not the same type of unity in the African American community based on classical conditioning....Let me educated all of you...Go to the internet and put in Willie Lynch.  His methods on taming a slave works to this day.  Look at Amistad.  Again, Mr. Crisp if you think about African you think of an untamed people.  You need to broaden your horizons...African has more wealthy than the US.  I am not a Maurcs Garvey believer but If African Americans did not leave America and remain in Africa.  You might not be happy.  Why? would you want Barack Obama to be our President.  Again, think about all the things you need to create work.....traffic light, elevator, plasma, many many things African American gave to the US.  Where would you be without Kentucky Fried Chicken, Coca Cola, the cotton gin, Gold, and Diamonds...many things you need to learn about the contributions of African American.  Where would America be without slaves.....I think you would still be trying to build a country.  Many things slave created and did not get paid for nor compensated.  So, until you really know the history outside of what the history book teaches...I am not the person to go with..........on any of these issues.  

I know about the Holocaust.....I know they experimented on twins, children, women were raped.  I also know that IBM assisted in helping Germany find Jews......I know the history of all who were oppressed...Yet, I know all of it not just some of it.  I am a broad thinking not a narrow thinker.  I know about the gas chambers, I know about how they separated every family member.  I know about how the people were starved.  Yet, these people keep their families in their hearts and minds. 

Did African Americans have the same advantage....? No,   Some Jews had know of what was going on and left Germany before it started....Did Indians have the same opportunity....? No,  So, I want all of history to be told correctly from a person who is Open in listening to all information.  Do I think that Holocaust was the worst thing to happen to a group of people.   Yes, but not greater than Native Americans or African Americans.

If I compare the average Jew to the average African American, or Indian.....The Jew has a business, he has some since of who he is and where he is from.  

What I am saying is Yes, the Holocaust should be in the history books...However, it should not be told as the Greatest inhuman treatment to man.  I just wonder would any Jews be still going if they endure what African American endure....It is one thing to know who you are and move on but to never know who you are or where you are from....Is a battle within itself.

kmfelder55 says ...

Mr. Crisp,

To benefit from Oppression some form of wealthy for the people as a whole has to occur...some form of Financial gain and acknowledgement of the in humane treatment.  To say that we have leaders to represent our people is an understatement.  I would love to have fourty acres of land.  

"our people" to me that is sort of a seporation WE are Americans and WE are one people.

Again, I will simply explain to you and understand me clearly.  400 years of oppression, plus classical conditioning that continues on in African Americans is awful. continues??? Where I live here in the DEEP south for the most part we see no color. 

I am not lessening what happen to the Jews if you look at my last name and study you will see I might know their history far better than many. Yes, Indians have many, many issues.  However, many Indians can go to some colleges free or at a discounted rate.  What about the University of Michigan's policy on having African Americans with less credentals than other more worthy students.  Better yeht the work force where you have to have so many African Americans per capita.

African Americans are no more of a unified force to be reckon with....Yet, the Jews are!!! I bet none of you would get on television and say anything against their race of people.  You might end up off the television.  Jews are unified in everyway.  The oppression they received created an unbelieveable bond a cohesiveness.  It is not the same type of unity in the African American community based on classical conditioning....Let me educated all of you...Go to the internet and put in Willie Lynch.  His methods on taming a slave works to this day.  Look at Amistad.  Again, Mr. Crisp if you think about African you think of an untamed people.  You need to broaden your horizons...African has more wealthy than the US.  I am not a Maurcs Garvey believer but If African Americans did not leave America and remain in Africa.  You might not be happy.  Why? would you want Barack Obama to be our President.  Again, think about all the things you need to create work.....traffic light, elevator, plasma, many many things African American gave to the US.  Where would you be without Kentucky Fried Chicken, Coca Cola, the cotton gin, Gold, and Diamonds...many things you need to learn about the contributions of African American.  Where would America be without slaves.....I think you would still be trying to build a country.  Many things slave created and did not get paid for nor compensated.  So, until you really know the history outside of what the history book teaches...I am not the person to go with..........on any of these issues.  

Yes but you forgot Washington DC.  As for the TV comment.... when chris rock, eddy murphy and others of the same race down the color of their own skin how can it be taken seriously.  Oh and TV companies probably have Hebrews at least on their board because they have earned their way there.

I know about the Holocaust.....I know they experimented on twins, children, women were raped.  I also know that IBM assisted in helping Germany find Jews......I know the history of all who were oppressed...Yet, I know all of it not just some of it.  I am a broad thinking not a narrow thinker.  I know about the gas chambers, I know about how they separated every family member.  I know about how the people were starved.  Yet, these people keep their families in their hearts and minds. 

Did African Americans have the same advantage....? No,   Some Jews had know of what was going on and left Germany before it started....Did Indians have the same opportunity....? No,  So, I want all of history to be told correctly from a person who is Open in listening to all information.  Do I think that Holocaust was the worst thing to happen to a group of people.   Yes, but not greater than Native Americans or African Americans.  Once again read Night by Weisel and you will change your mind on that.  All three races did not have a choice on what happened and all three where WRONG, all we can do now is learn from our mistakes by looking OUR history TOGETHER and learn.

If I compare the average Jew to the average African American, or Indian.....The Jew has a business, he has some since of who he is and where he is from.  The Hebrew has a business because he worked for it just like anyother American.  Look at my blood lines: english, french, German, Cherokee.  I beleive I can talk about this.  I do have a BS in history.

What I am saying is Yes, the Holocaust should be in the history books...However, it should not be told as the Greatest inhuman treatment to man.  I just wonder would any Jews be still going if they endure what African American endure....It is one thing to know who you are and move on but to never know who you are or where you are from....Is a battle within itself.

I am sorry for your battle BUT try answering for something that happened 150 years ago and your family faught for the Union to free the slaves.  And slavery was going on well before 1776 and in many more countries than the USA.  Comments like these really get my blood boiling WE are the UNITED States of America, not black americans, white americans, indians, hispanics, etc.  WE are ONE PEOPLE.

 

 

Mr. Crisp,

I address you and I am done.  I am working on my Master's Degree in Secondary Education.  I have a Bachelor degree in Social Worker.  I have a Minor in Biology, American History, and African American Studies.  Ok, My Father and Great Grand Father who was born in 1913 both Graduated from Harvard University.

In your prior comment you listed leaders of the African American community who you deem to be leaders...Which I do not see my race of people as a unified force like the Jews. 

It seems as if you are trying to say that African Americans have not worked hard...Now I am keeping an open mind because to make any implication that my people are lazy is upsetting.  Every time you use a traffic light...Think of the African American man who created.  The cotton Gin black man.....The reason your life or anyone's life can be save by blood plasma is due to a Black man....So, I can say my people for many different areans because I have the history and DNA...not just the books to back me in this matter.  Yet, I want to pull out the comment about Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock......Willie Lynch.......Oppression that last longer than the actual act is devastating.  I know many people will argue this point all day long...Many do not feel like African American are oppressed but just plain lazy.  Well, I am a Single mother of three... I work two jobs.  I afford my children a  quality education and tutoring when needed.  They have sports activities... I am not on welfare.

When we speak on Oppression for Jews them working does not make them Powerful.....that is crazy to think that.....Hispanics are a going population of people...they are not powerful because they work!!!!  They are powerful because of the UNITY.......African Americans do not have this because of Slavery.   Barack Obama did not get into office because of African Americans...Nope, it was a Unity of a group of people as a Whole  Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, and many others......

I am making it Plain....Teach the Holocaust in school....However, ensure that is not told as the Greatest IN human thing to a group of people.........it is not.....many people have suffer......

Meg the person with the white cat as your representative.....You brought up the Bible...When Jews where oppressed in the Bible....they lived with their families,  servitidue was to create things for the Pharoh.....Jews were set free from this by God himself.....this was not oppressive as the Holocaust...so i really do not see your point in why you would bring it up.  If i compare it to African Americans during Shaka Zulu...many blacks were in the same from of slavery...it did not rip families apart...

I think many of you who are responding to what i am saying are skewed in your level of all the subjects.  Do you think I am saying Slavery for African Americans was the worst ever....It is not on a Scale of 1 to 10!  All of it was Horrible.  Yet, did the race of people bounce back and Prosper................................JEWS did.......Native Americans, African Americans did not................Yet, when we talk about making Amends for what was done...................JEWS vowed it would never happen again...the tragedy brought them closer as a people....Native American struggle from within because of being almost completely wiped out.....African Americans received what type of regard to what was done to them as a people......???????????????  Did they get 40 acres nope,  They get the shortest month for people to celebrate...Well I tell you  I would like for All African American to be able to do the same thing the Jews did.....create a level of cohesiveness work to pool all of their money in their community three times in circulation before it ever hits the economy.  Then yes, I would be able to say the same thing  Teach about the Holocaust.......I laugh at how many are attacking my views as if I am totally wrong...Yet, I have no emotion on this subject matter....It something i study daily......I am a Teach that feels all stories should be total open ended...Where students can have a broad view.......However, trying  to take away my point of view and statements we could go on and on forever.  I can bring out points.  For example, Jews are still attack with comments that are negative in the media.  To me many of those people are uneducated because they really do not know anything about the Jewish culture....Yet, I believe it is healthy for people to take pride in their race....It is when people think their race is Superior over another I have problems with it!  Many things have happened to African American that i just now the Jews would have banned together to stop it from happening again.....!

Again, MagPro85,

I make a clear statement with my information that is far beyond the History channel.  I Have read The Holocaust by Jack R Fischel  Byond the Conceivable Studies on Germany Nazism and the Holocaust by Dan Diner.  I have also read the Bible on a daily reading.  I have read the Atalntic Slave Trad by Joseph E inikori......The willie lynch the making of a Slave.

I could make comparsions all day long.  But if I did not say it..YOu are assuming that is what I am inherently trying to say.  Well, I am plainly telling you it can be compared again and again.  No lessor or greater. 

See what really opens my eyes is How Many of you that are responding to what I am saying are well rounded and diverse...Not skewed in information.  In order to make a good arguement you must have three premises.  I have references that I have read on both topics.  The History channel is entertaining.....!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been in complete discussion where people can talk all day long but it comes out the same Oppression of any people is AWFUL!

So, I make clear points but can back any statements made.