Introduction

    Before coming into Facing History and Ourselves, I didn’t really know what to expect from the course. Now after having taken the class, it is unlike any other class offered at the high school. In most classes, you read from textbooks and listen to lectures in order to gain knowledge on subjects that will barely help in the future. However, in Facing History and Ourselves, I found that the lessons taught in the class can be functional in almost every aspect of life.
    Another aspect of the course I really liked was that the material was shown in a very interesting way. The numerous films we watched kept the class’s attention, and they were also very effective in getting the point across. Seeing real photographs and events on television is much more valuable than simply reading from a book, as it sends a much more powerful message about what actually happened in the past, and how it affected those involved. For example, the films of personal stories about the Holocaust we watched, such as The Pianist or The Island on Bird Street, allowed me to make a much more personal connection to the events of the Holocaust.
    I chose to take the course because I knew it would discuss past events such as the Holocaust, and I was interested in how something so terrible could actually happen. I did gain a better understanding of how the Nazis were able to do what they did, but on top of learning historical explanations, the course taught me a variety of lessons that no other class has been able to. I would definitely recommend Facing History and Ourselves to anyone considering taking the course.