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When students open a textbook and see Jews mentioned only in the context of the Holocaust, what message are we sending? That Jewish history begins in tragedy — and ends in it?

Navigating the extensive world of Holocaust education resources can be overwhelming. There are so many organizations that offer educational materials, books, films, interactive learning opportunities and visits for students.

Teaching about the Holocaust in middle school can be a meaningful experience when educators use age-appropriate resources and focus on first-person accounts. By doing so, students are not only able to learn the historical facts but also engage in discussions that encourage empathy and a deeper understanding of this important topic.

Canadian students come from diverse backgrounds and bring a wide range of experiences into our classrooms. When teaching about heavy subjects like the Holocaust, it is important that we do so with a trauma-informed approach to best support all of our students.

We’ve had an 80-year holiday from history — a brief pause in the centuries-long cycle of exclusion, scapegoating and violence. That holiday is now over.As the school year wraps up, and with 2025 marking 80 years since the end of World War II, it’s time to ask hard questions about what we’re teaching — and what we’re missing.

This article was published in French by Audrey Bélanger as “Cultiver l’empathie des élèves et leur désir de mieux comprendre diverses manifestations du racisme à travers un récit mémoriel : l’exemple de matricule E96.” Les Cahiers de l’AQPF 14 (3): 52–56, 2023. Translated into English by Dawson Campbell, 2024.