Introduction

This school year, as a senior, a made a very good decision to take Mr. Gallagher’s course, Facing History and Ourselves, I think that this was one of the best choices I have made as a WHS student in terms of picking and choosing classes. This course takes it’s students on a journey through discrimination in history. The students will see documentaries and films about civil rights and the Jim Crow era, as well as films and documentaries about the Holocaust and the years leading up to it. Not only do you get a good understanding of what actually happened during the Holocaust, but you also get a good understanding of what was going on during that period of time historically. Mr. Gallagher will show the class a great mixture of articles, documentaries, and Hollywood films, as well as actual footage and images from the death camps. 

I chose to take this class mainly because every year, weather in English or history, I have learned a little bit about the Holocaust, but it seems like every year it is the same old thing. I wanted to learn more about what actually happened and I knew that Mr. Gallagher was the perfect guy for the job. He knows what he is talking about and cares a lot about the topic. When I was a sophomore and had him for US History I he discussed the Facing History course with our class and since then I have wanted to take this course. I am glad that I did as I learned a lot not only about the Holocaust, but also about myself in general. Facing History and Ourselves certainly helped me to gain civic agency.