History Lesson Moves Students

Justice Sharon Lee of the Tennessee Supreme Court

Philosopher and Novelist George Santayana once said, “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Though sometimes difficult, it is important to learn about historical events that transformed the landscape of the world. World War II and the Holocaust are not pleasant topics with a powerful but not happy ending. Students at Simon Youth Dr. Paul L. Kelley Volunteer Academy at Knoxville Center in Knoxville, Tennessee were tasked with reading the novel “Night” by Nobel Peace Prize winning author Elie Wiesel. Upon completion, the students had a guest speaker come to discuss the book and bring it to life.

The book study was part of the Knoxville Rotary Club six week book study program the Academy students participate in as a part of the history class curriculum. Justice Sharon Lee of the Tennessee Supreme Court came to discuss the book and bring her own father’s story of survival in a Nazi concentration camp after being captured during the war. It is one thing to read a book and keep a “distance” from the realities and atrocities experienced and hearing an account from someone with intimate knowledge of the subject matter.

“We’ve had several speakers come to speak to our students, but I’ve rarely seen everyone so engaged like they were,” said Kim Towe, Administrator at the Academy. “Her father’s story had so many pieces of knowledge the students could relate to on a personal level. She really captured and kept their attention the entire presentation.”

Justice Lee talked with the students about what her father went through after being captured and sent to a concentration camp. She described the deplorable conditions, lack of food and water, and watching people he would become acquainted with be dragged away, never to be seen again. One of the interesting points she talked about was how everyone at the camp came together like a family. They would encourage each other on difficult days, share what little food or water they had, and do whatever necessary to keep hope alive.  

Relating back to some of the struggles the students at the Academy may have had or are having, Justice Lee tried to bring everything into perspective. Whether reading about history in a book or thinking about your personal history, you can learn from both successes and failures, and how you can apply them today.

About the book “Night”The book is an autobiographical account of life in the Nazi death camps. Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel takes his readers with him from his home, into the ghetto, on the transport, through Selections, into the concentration camps, on the Death March, and beyond. Reading this book gives one a deeper and more personal understanding of the Holocaust experience. Only with this understanding can one genuinely remember the Holocaust and thus help ensure it won't happen again.