Spotlight on Holocaust Education: Fred Whittaker and St. Francis of Assisi Middle School

UPDATE: The Kentucky legislature just passed the bill HJR 6 proposed by Holocaust survivor Ernie Marx and the students of St. Francis of Assisi school. The hard work and passion of the students and the dedication of the instructor has made some positive change and enrichment in the curriculum of Kentucky students. Students will now have the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust in Kentucky public schools.

When Fred Whittaker was in middle school, his dad decided he was old enough to see images of war. In the Whittaker household, there was a small library which had a set of books on World War II. As a young Fred looked through the collection, the images that stuck the most were the images of the Holocaust.

Mr. Whittaker said that he was struck at that age, seeing such senseless tragedy and not being able to understand how a horror of that magnitude could happen. “I saw (these) images of the Holocaust and never had the questions answered,” Mr. Whittaker said.

He never forgot these questions. As Mr. Whittaker started preparing for his teaching career, he kept sight of the surreal inhumanity. “The Holocaust was bleakness in its extreme,” he said. “As an educator, I wanted to counter it.”

Now teaching history, science and religion at Saint Francis of Assisi school in Louiseville, Kentucky, Fred Whittaker has integrated Holocaust education along with peace and conflict resolution into the curriculum. But Mr. Whittaker’s approach to Holocaust education is unique and shows a trust in his student’s good nature. Whereas many middle school educators perceive this age group as difficult and feel the need to discipline and heavily structure the classroom, Mr. Whittaker argues this energy should be cultivated because it can make positive change. And his approach is radical. His lessons do not shelter the students in rules, principles and numbers; Mr. Whittaker allows his students to feel a deep connection to the tragedies and the victories. "The students are already fearless," Whittaker said.

The results of his approach are staggering - a classroom of energetic teenagers finds the drive to organize writing letters to Palestinian and Israeli students and the courage to testify before the Kentucky state legislature on the value of Holocaust education. The school hosts an active social justice club, Committee on Conscience, driven primarily by the students.

Mr. Whittaker does not say much about his part in the action. "The educator must step back and allow the students to use the talents and passion they already have," he said. And as the students grow, so must the educator. Mr. Whittaker is a graduate of the Catholic Institute for Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem, a program sponsored in part by the NCCHE and Hebrew University of Israel, who continues to keep current with education. He is also a 2006 recipient of the Anne Frank Outstanding Educator Award. But Mr. Whittaker humbly says that the students' questions and thirst for knowledge drives him to stay current as an educator. "One of the lessons they taught me: I don't know enough."

Spotlight on Holocaust Education is a feature column highlighting the work of Catholic Educators committed to Holocaust education.