Teaching about the Holocaust: Bringing the Lesson to Closure

Dr. Joyce Witt, AP European History teacher at Highland Park High School in Chicago, demonstrates in this sample lesson an exemplary method for teaching a class on the Holocaust. Joyce Witt was a 1997-1998 Teacher Fellow at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This program was a part of the museum's Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Exemplary Lessons Initiative. Dr. Witt explains:

"Study of the Holocaust would not be complete without a discussion of implications for the future. How should the Holocaust be woven into the fabric of twentieth-century history? How can its study move us forward so that our children are not traumatized and fixated on its atrocities? Most important, what are the lessons that can be learned from this horrific event so that our children learn from the past to make a better world? These essential questions must be asked if the study of the Holocaust is to have meaning in the post-Holocaust world.

To learn more about Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Exemplary Lessons of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum visit http://www.ushmm.org/education/foreducators/prodev/beli/2005/beli.php.

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[123456ms789]

in ww1 over 1/3 of serbian population died, swiss dr Archibald Rice, founder of swiss university and one of founders of interpol, came in serbia to record crimes austrians did there. he witnessed of thousand killed women and children hanged along roads. and after ww1 do you know how many of them were prosecuted? zero, none

[nukaa1]

"UNICEF reported that of the estimated 65,000 to 80,000 children in the city: at least 40 percent had been directly shot at by snipers; 51 percent had seen someone killed; 39 percent had seen one or more family members killed; 19 percent had witnessed a massacre; 48 percent had their home occupied by someone else; 73 percent have had their home attacked or shelled; and 89 percent had lived in underground shelters." Siege of Sarajevo, '92 to '96

[nukaa1]

"UNICEF reported that of the estimated 65,000 to 80,000 children in the city: at least 40 percent had been directly shot at by snipers; 51 percent had seen someone killed; 39 percent had seen one or more family members killed; 19 percent had witnessed a massacre; 48 percent had their home occupied by someone else; 73 percent have had their home attacked or shelled; and 89 percent had lived in underground shelters."

[ChilliPepperrrrr]

Srebrenica is a sad reminder of what happened in the Holocaust during WW2. Remember Srebrenica, never forget what happened in Europe to Jews in the Holocaust and Bosniaks in the Inferno.

[bosna314stl]

damn. high schools need more teachers like this in schools. it kinda sucks when some of the teachers dont even kno what they are talkin about, they just read it out the book.

[Jimbo1718]

im a bosnian muslim and im 21 yrs old I ran away from the war when I was 16 and the war over there is horror I lsot my whole family in that war one night the soldiers came to my home and raped my mother and sisters and kileld my father and took them and shot me and they thought I was dead but with the grace of god im still here :( should always remeber that war im 21 yrs old now and I will never forget what ive seen it haunts me

[dickhertzalot]

History never repeats itself. There can be recurring cycles but it is impossible to repeat.

She seems like a good teacher.

[ddrboy18]

she seems like a really good teacher I would like to be her student

[cut777]

omg i had dr witt last year.