Memphis Reads Holocaust Memoir

In fall 2005 through a generous grant from the Assisi Foundation, Facing History and Ourselves serialized Sonia Schreiber Weitz' Holocaust memoir, I Promised I Would Tell, as part of the Memphis Commercial Appeal's Newspapers in Education program. The project reached all 172,000 Commercial Appeal subscribers and over 325 middle and high school teachers who signed up for classroom sets. The following is teacher Nancy Parrish's reflection of her experience developing the literacy component for the memoir:

Last fall, Facing History and Ourselves asked my friend, Le Anne Fryman, and I, both teachers at Ridgeway Middle School, to create the literacy component for the Newspaper in Education's serialization of Sonia Weitz', I Promised I Would Tell. We embarked on planning to introduce the readings to our own classes, and were delighted when our principal, Dr. Roderick Richmond, agreed to have the entire school participate.

After the papers began to be delivered and classes began to read, feedback was immediate. Teachers routinely told me how touched they and their students were by Sonia's poetry and her story. For my own students, however, the newspapers were not enough. One Thursday, the newspaper failed to arrive in time for my students to read the excerpt. I picked up Sonia's book and began reading. Students recognized that the book told a more complete story, and they requested that I read the entire book to them. The book became a complement to the newspaper excerpts, and students looked forward to hearing it each day.

There is something about Sonia's poetry that begs to be read aloud; the spoken words drive deeply into the heart and soul. My students responded by writing poetry in response to Sonia's poetry. They also chose poems that had special meanings for them and illustrated them. As we read, we also completed activities that appeared with the newspaper excerpts. Students throughout the school wrote letters, completed artwork, and created displays. Another teacher and I compiled a book of the poetry and letters for Sonia, and made a copy of the book to be placed in our library alongside I Promised I Would Tell.

Word reached me that Sonia would be able to visit only one school during her trip to Memphis. Ridgeway Middle school was chosen as that school. The day I told my students that Sonia would visit our school and only our school, an undercurrent of voices crossed the classroom. "Sonia is coming?" "Sonia is coming." "Sonia is coming!"

It seemed that only by saying it aloud could they convince themselves that they had heard correctly. I was struck by the students' connection to this woman. They were calling her by her first name. She was their friend and someone they knew well. They connected to her sorrow and her victory for after all, while not the same experiences as the horror of the Holocaust, these students had nonetheless experienced sorrow. Many of our students face challenges in their lives, including violence, poverty, and family illnesses. Sonia's words reassured them that victory was possible.

When Sonia arrived at our school, teachers were excited. Several came forward before Sonia's presentation to shake her hand, hug her, and tell her how much the book and poetry had meant to them personally and to their students. I had expected that students would be unable to contain their excitement as well, but instead their demeanor was clearly one of honor. The halls were silent as more than eight-hundred students filed into the auditorium.

When the introductions began, the hushed whispers ceased and the room-our minds and souls-were filled with reverence for this lady that my students had long ceased to view as different. She was separated not by race, or gender, or faith, or age from these students who had become one with her life through the power of her words. They waited eagerly to hear her recite, scooted forward on their seats, and listened intently as her poetry flowed from her lips.

I have taught for thirty years. Never have I been so moved or so sure that my students' learning was so complete. It was and always will be the pinnacle of my work. I am certain it was a once in a lifetime experience. I thank Sonia for braving the darkness of memory to bear witness to my students who will surely continue to bear witness throughout their lives. She serves as a beacon that screams into the night, "One person can make a difference."