On Thursday of this week, Coolidge 8th graders had an amazing opportunity. Dr. Anna Ornstein, an Auschwitz survivor, came to speak with the students as part of a Holocaust unit they are completing in English. Anna, petite in frame, large in personality, and honest in nature, shared her heart-wrenching story with the 8th grade class. It was extremely powerful for students and adults alike, as you can imagine. While it is difficult to even find the right words to describe the experience, I hope that students were able to articulate their feelings and reactions to their parents afterwards.
As we adults know, and as the students have learned, the events in history of which Anna spoke were horrific. While many emotions passed through me during Anna's talk, I was left with such a strong feeling of gratitude. I was so grateful that Anna and so many others like her are brave enough to continue to share their stories, which are such difficult stories to hear, much less to tell. Their stories remind us that bravery can come from anyone in many different forms and can help people through the most terrible of situations. In addition, by sharing her story, Anna has given our students the chance to learn about this time in history from a first-hand source, which is a rare opportunity. They now hold her story in their own hearts, and it will hopefully shape their own perspectives on life in a positive way.
Thank you to Linda Snow-Dockser for making this opportunity a reality for our students. Additional thanks to Erica LeBow and Laura Warren, our 8th grade English teachers, for teaching the material and for incorporating Anna's story into their curriculum.
If you would like to read more about Anna's story, the following article gives more detail:
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