Recounting war and genocide:

the potential uses for personal writing of youth in the classroom

Abstract

There are several potential uses for personal writings in history classes about the Shoah. Therefore, we will discuss essays collected from the dossiers of adolescent offenders
from French Observation Centers in the 1940s, through which we can observe their juvenile experiences with war and genocide. It is evident that these experiences are expressed through accounts of fear, mourning, and trauma, as well as solidarity. This is why these sources in Basic Education can bring young people closer to these sensitive moments, creating empathy, a concern about the fight against authoritarianism, and the importance of human rights.