Teaching the Holocaust: Some Reflections on a Problematic Area

Abstract

This article is concerned with two aspects of the debate over teaching the Holocaust in schools. The first is whether the subject ought to form part of the curriculum; the second is whether it can be taught effectively. In respect of the former, it is argued that the Holocaust ought not only to be studied in schools but should be introduced to children of primary school age. Problems involved in teaching it at this level are explored via semi‐structured interviews with children aged between eight and eleven. The data suggest that whilst many ten and eleven year olds can acquire a relatively mature concept of a Jew, misconceptions about Jewish culture within this age group are widespread. The data further suggest that most eight and nine year olds do not possess (and thus need to be taught) a concept of a Jew that is sufficiently complex to enable them to grasp the meaning of the Holocaust.