Teacher Barbara Demlow and her Holocaust bulletin board.

Demlow keeps her English literature class on the Holocaust active and thinking.

Genocide and Avenue of the Just,
videos such as The Wave and Out of
the Ashes, and guest speakers to
supplement the lessons on history
and literature. The class is attrac-
tive because it is something the
students can really attach them-
selves to and relate to daily in
their lives.
It is important that the stu-
dents understand that they have
choices in life. They don't have to
follow, but they need to be aware."
Most of the students know
about Hitler and the Nazis, but
they don't really know the history
of the Holocaust. They need a lot of
background."

Starting with Anne Frank, the
students deal with individual cases.
They also meet Holocaust sur-
vivors. Demlow said the students
relate strongly to the guest speak-
ers, becoming very involved and
taking the discussions home to
their families.
"One student discovered a
woman from Holland that saved
Anne Frank's dentist and invited
her to speak to the class," Demlow
said. "I emphasize the Righteous
Gentiles and the role they played
in saving the Jews during the
Holocaust. Some of the students
have survivorg‘ in their family."
Ferndale's English staff is very

Jennie Russell

supportive, and Demlow was re-
cently sent by the school to a
three-day conference in Washing-
ton on the Righteous Gentiles. It
was the most incredible experience.
I was overcome by the goodness of
the people who saved the Jews. I
cried the entire three days."
While curiosity may be the ini-
tial incentive for taking Demlow's
class, the students soon develop
strong opinions about the events of
the Holocaust. Many said they wish
there was something they could
have done. Some felt they would
have fought against the Nazis.
Others expressed disbelief that the
United States knew what was

going on and didn't do anything to
stop it. A few who thought of the
Jews as a weak race changed their
minds after Demlow stressed the
resistance of the Jews during the
Holocaust. But all of them said
they would never forget the things
they have learned.
"I learned more from this class
than any other," said Shelly Wig-,
man. "I think it should`be a man-
datory class. You learn that
everyone has rights. People never
thought the Holocaust would hap-
pen, and it did. It could happen
again."
While many of the students

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