by George J Elbaum

American High School in Fremont, CA, with enrollment of 2000 students, teaches a World History course for sophomores which includes an extensive curricular exploration of the Holocaust.  As the culmination of that unit of instruction, teacher Sarah Hylas organized an all-day event on May 12, 2011 which included my talk to about 275 students in the morning, then break-out sessions, a short film, art projects, etc, and another Holocaust speaker and concentration camp survivor in the afternoon.  Before my talk, Jack Weinstein of Facing History & Ourselves (who arranged this talk for me) spoke to the students about the importance of learning about the Holocaust directly from the few remaining survivors, and for the students to pass it onward someday when no survivors remain.  My talk, supported by Sarah Hylas and her fellow teachers, Chris Fulton and Audrey Suratos, and Vice-Principal Anette Reichbart Saxe,  resulted in an active Q&A session during which many hands were still raised when we reached the 90 min. limit allocated to that session.

Jack Weinstein speaking to students

 

with teacher Sarah Hylas

my talk, same audience

 

 

 

 

 

with Nicholas

 

with Deborah