From: Almagor, Lelac <LAlmagor>
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 09:20:14 -0400

Monica, many of my students have read the diary and loved it. I'm a bit surprised to realize that I haven't read it myself since middle school, and there's a part of me that really doesn't want to pick it up again. Not sure why; will have to read it and find out, I suppose.

Meghan, I think many children are fascinated by the "gritty details," and some people -- my parents, for example -- feel that this ugliness is integral to Holocaust education. My worry is that the "lampshades and soap" information can easily overwhelm what is, to my mind, a more useful kind of knowledge about the Holocaust. My childhood worldview certainly included the bottomless human capacity for evil -- but I also vividly remember sitting up past midnight at a grade-school slumber party, reading aloud the most lurid bits of Daniel's Story over and over again.

Paula, thanks for the recommendation. My students have been asking me why Denmark acquited itself so honorably when other countries failed, and I haven't had a good answer.

Ms. Lelac Almagor Grade Five English Writing Center National Cathedral School for Girls www.ncsforgirls.org/lalmagor/ lalmagor at cathedral.org 202-537-2312
Received on Thu 20 Apr 2006 08:20:14 AM CDT