Should We Teach the Holocaust?

Original post by thehistorybore

Should it be taught or shouldn't it?

Whilst it is obviously a topic that can be studied historically (it has origin/effects etc), is it disrespectful to teach it, as no single person can do justice in conveying the absolute horror, or should it be taught as part of a lesson for humanity?

Interested to know what everyone thinks.

...how is that "disrespectful", though? there are a tonne of things in history that featured humans suffering, why is the holocaust any different? we can't portray suffering with 100% accuracy, but surely that's just the limitation of language?

Reply 2

OP

Original post by zippity.doodah

...how is that "disrespectful", though? there are a tonne of things in history that featured humans suffering, why is the holocaust any different? we can't portray suffering with 100% accuracy, but surely that's just the limitation of language?

But then what about the people who know they lost relatives during the holocaust? Are we distanced enough from it to be able to analyse it with dispassion? Is it historically mature?

Reply 3

Potally_Tissed

19

Yeah, let's just teach the nice bits of history. That doesn't defeat the point at all.

Reply 4

Bethius

I feel like people need to understand the horrors of the Holocaust, otherwise how could they have the proper respect for the people who endured it? However, I feel that it does need to be taught in a sensitive manner, especially at the lower end of the education system. I'm not exactly the best person to give my opinion on this though, as I haven't lost any relatives that I know of in the holocaust, and I didn't study History at GCSE, let alone A level, so I'm not particularly educated on how history is taught to GCSE, A level and higher education students.

Reply 5

zippity.doodah

Original post by thehistorybore

But then what about the people who know they lost relatives during the holocaust? Are we distanced enough from it to be able to analyse it with dispassion? Is it historically mature?

so if I told you some of my family members died in WWII, does that mean we can't learn about it?

Reply 6

OP

Original post by zippity.doodah

so if I told you some of my family members died in WWII, does that mean we can't learn about it?

What I'm getting at is whether such a thing is far too horrific to be taught. Is it unprecedented?

What do you do when you visit a concentration camp? Do you take photos and smile like its a nice day out? It's not an easy thing to deal with without being disrespectful to the millions that die.

Reply 7

swagyolo420

16

What a dumb statement. May aswell just not teach history if you're gonna be so picky

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Reply 8

ivybridge

6

Of course we should and properly too. So many people I know come away thinking it was only the Jews persecuted during the war and not really knowing anything about the Holocaust other than 'lots of Jews died'. It's ridiculous!

Reply 9

zippity.doodah

Original post by thehistorybore

What I'm getting at is whether such a thing is far too horrific to be taught. Is it unprecedented?

What do you do when you visit a concentration camp? Do you take photos and smile like its a nice day out? It's not an easy thing to deal with without being disrespectful to the millions that die.

there are mass graveyards out there. I've been to the one in france. reality is reality. history is reality. what else can you say?

Reply 10

DraftMeteor

7

He who forgets history is doomed to repeat it.

Reply 11

OP

The question is, how can you ever teach it without doing a disservice to those who died under such conditions?
Could you go on school trips there? Would you take pictures? Would you smile? Would you have lunch on the site at which hundreds of thousands died?

Reply 12

OP

Original post by DraftMeteor

He who forgets history is doomed to repeat it.

Never write that in a personal statement if you're applying for a history degree.

Reply 13

DraftMeteor

7

Original post by thehistorybore

Never write that in a personal statement if you're applying for a history degree.

Hahaha yeah, I'd probably be doing history degree next year if I was decent at it. Find history super interesting but can't write essays well enough. I'll just stick to reading history books.

Reply 14

OP

Original post by DraftMeteor

Hahaha yeah, I'd probably be doing history degree next year if I was decent at it. Find history super interesting but can't write essays well enough. I'll just stick to reading history books.

If you love it, do it! You don't want to forever regret not taking the chance to study it.

As regards to essays, read this article; http://www.historytoday.com/robert-pearce/how-write-good-history-essay

It turned my essay writing right around!

Reply 15

meems5

I personally think it's disrespectful NOT to teach it. One of the most horrific times in history should be made aware by everyone. Yes I agree that the extent of their suffering is extremely difficult to convey in a manner for us to understand but it should definitely be taught no questions asked.

I read a book called 'The Storyteller' by Jodi Picoult which is based on the holocaust and some chapters are written from the point of view of a refugee. I cried so many times in the duration of reading this book; I highly recommend it.

Reply 16

Mad Vlad

19

Original post by thehistorybore

Should it be taught or shouldn't it?

Whilst it is obviously a topic that can be studied historically (it has origin/effects etc), is it disrespectful to teach it, as no single person can do justice in conveying the absolute horror, or should it be taught as part of a lesson for humanity?

Interested to know what everyone thinks.

Of course it should be taught.

Reply 17

boods8897