Some Grade 6 and 7 students in Toronto had a unique opportunity on Tuesday to engage with an author and explore personal artifacts related to a historical event. The event, held in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, gathered dozens of students at the Toronto District School Board’s headquarters for a discussion with author Kathy Kacer about her book To Hope and Back. The book tells the story of the 1939 journey of the St. Louis, a ship carrying Jewish refugees escaping Nazi Germany before World War II. Despite being rejected by several countries, including Canada, the ship was eventually forced to return to Europe.
During the event, Kacer shared her inspiration for writing the book, emphasizing the significance of the St. Louis story in her own life. She recounted her research and interviews with survivors to create a narrative centered around two children, Lisa and Sol, who were passengers on the ship.
While Lisa, one of the characters in the book, has since passed away, her daughter Madeline Avedon and granddaughter Talia Mirkin shared personal anecdotes and showcased items that accompanied Lisa on the voyage. Students were eager to ask questions ranging from the passengers’ food provisions to the duration of the journey that faced multiple rejections at various ports.
Marilyn Sinclair, the founder of Liberation 75, highlighted the importance of engaging students in conversations about historical events like the Holocaust. She emphasized the value of face-to-face interactions in fostering meaningful dialogue among students, encouraging them to delve into challenging topics and spark discussions with their peers.
While several provinces have mandated Holocaust education in high school curricula, Liberation 75 advocates for introducing these lessons as early as Grade 6. The organization believes that educating students about the Holocaust and antisemitism during their formative years can enhance their critical thinking skills and social awareness.
Encouraging students to question the authenticity and credibility of historical narratives, as demonstrated by one student’s inquiry to Kacer, is essential in fostering a critical mindset and promoting trust in information sources, according to Sinclair.
At the Toronto Holocaust Museum, elementary students are exposed to age-appropriate accounts of survivors’ experiences during the Holocaust, focusing on personal stories rather than graphic details. This approach aims to instill values of empathy, responsible citizenship, and media literacy in young learners.