Human Rights Class Travels Through History

January 27th was International Holocaust Remembrance Day, where the world remembered the tragedies that were committed almost 80 years ago. The Holocaust was a tragedy that is hard to forget, and something that is greatly focused on in school. However, learning this history from physical material is an impactful feeling.

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Washingtonville High School’s Human Rights class took a field trip on January 31st to the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education in Rockland. There, the students toured through the museum, collaborated with each other in group activities, embraced knowledge from educators, and learned information about the Holocaust that is not touched on in school. This experience, aligning with the Human Rights curriculum, taught students more about the Holocaust and the importance of speaking out against intolerance and indifference in the world.

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Of course, field trips like these have a crucial lesson for students to leave with. Human Rights teacher, Mrs. Constable, explained “I wanted students to have a better understanding of the Holocaust with more historical knowledge of the truth.” Seeing historic artifacts in person makes an everlasting impression on students. Real and personal accounts of the events that happened, along with physical media, enforce the reality of what people went through during the Holocaust.

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Learning the history of tragedies is hard, but it is significant for students to do. Mrs. Constable expressed “History has a tendency to repeat itself. It's important that we learn it and study it so that we can better understand it for a more just and peaceful future.” Though not every student may enjoy history, learning about it is incredibly crucial. Speaking out against injustice, tolerance, and empathy are important lessons to learn.

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Experiencing a museum about tragedies in history is a very emotional and impactful thing. An anonymous Washingtonville High School senior student admitted “Walking through the museum and reading all of the texts really hit me. I was so heartbroken with some of the things I read.” A variety of emotions can be felt while taking a walk through history. From heartbreak to anger for the victims, plenty of emotions can be felt.

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The significance of an experience like this is something that affects students for life. The anonymous senior added “It’s important to learn about the Holocaust because it's something that should have never happened in the first place, and something that should never happen again.” Protecting the future starts with recognizing the past and learning from it.

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History is an important thing, and experiencing history through artifacts and personal recounts can impact a student’s life. Learning and experiencing the history of the Holocaust through museums is something that everyone should do.