Did the Holocaust happen? That’s a question one group is disappointed to know continues to receive multiple answers.
Liberation75, an organization created to recognize the 75th anniversary of when Jewish and other victimized groups were liberated from Nazi tyranny, recently conducted a survey along with Western University to see what today’s younger generation knows about the genocide.
The group has been around for two years now as Jan. 27 is known as the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marking the 77th anniversary of when Auschwitz was liberated.
Two-thirds of the nearly 3,600 students, between Grades 6 and 12, surveyed agreed the Holocaust did happen, while roughly one-third questioned whether all the information was accurate or simply didn’t know anything about it.
Dennis Ogrodnick, a former history teacher in Prince Albert, told paNOW he believes many of these students probably have never been taught anything about the Holocaust while in school.
“Students that aren’t learning it, if they read something online or whatever they’re subject to that. That’s the flaw in our education system.”
He added the education system in Saskatchewan doesn’t make learning history mandatory in later grades. This has resulted in many dropping the class before getting the chance to learn more about the Holocaust and other genocides including in Rwanda, Ukraine, and in Canada with residential schools.
As for some of the younger students, Ogrodnick noted some may just believe the facts are too cruel to be true.
“A lot of the horrific events have been hidden and when you expose that to the students, they are in shock.”
Personal Feelings
Ogrodnick isn’t Jewish himself, however, he believes his grandfather might have been.
He ended up immigrating to Canada from Eastern Europe before the First World War. Out of fear, it’s believed he lied about his religion, resulting in his family growing up Catholic.
Back in the 1990s, Ogrodnick traveled to Poland where he experienced the Warsaw Ghetto. Though his family wasn’t a part of the horrific tragedy, the whole experience was too much for him.
“I hated being there, I just couldn’t see any delight in touring this, and when I had the opportunity to go to a concentration camp I couldn’t go.”
Next Steps
Liberation75 is hoping this study shows the need for more in-depth teaching about the Holocaust.
Along with learning about the past, they hope better knowledge could help prevent bullying, discrimination, and other intergroup conflicts.
—
Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com
On Twitter: @princealbertnow
