Education of Holocaust wins St. Kevin teacher state recognition

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 6/24/14

“It is necessary to learn about the Holocaust especially in the world we live in today. It is an important piece of history that students should understand,” Darlene Caruolo, a teacher at St. …

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Education of Holocaust wins St. Kevin teacher state recognition

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“It is necessary to learn about the Holocaust especially in the world we live in today. It is an important piece of history that students should understand,” Darlene Caruolo, a teacher at St. Kevin’s School and Cranston resident, said in a recent interview.

Caruolo has been teaching a Holocaust unit with her 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students for 6 years. Her students have consistently won in the Holocaust Education and Resource Center’s (HERC) Holocaust Art and Writing Contest, but this year Caruolo was the big winner. The HERC named her Teacher of the Year.

The HERC, based in Providence, promotes education of the Holocaust throughout the state to promote equality and justice while memorializing the victims.

Caruolo was recognized for her phenomenal education efforts through her Holocaust unit every February that runs 4 to 6 weeks.

Caruolo assigns every grade a different book and then they have tests, projects, and their essays or poetry submitted to the Holocaust Center’s annual contest.

Caruolo said, “ I started out very small in 2009 with 12 sixth graders, but the students were so enthusiastic to learn more so we expanded the unit to include all three grades.”

This year there were 38 students between the 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Three of her students won prizes in the statewide competition. They won 1st, 2nd and an honorable mention.

Since Caruolo started the program, at least three to six of her students win awards in the contest every year.

This year the 6th grade read “Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry, the tale of a young girl and her Jewish best friend’s struggle to escape from Copenhagen after the German occupation. “Devil’s Arithmetic,” written by Jane Yolen and assigned to the 7th grade is about a modern Jewish girl who is transported back in time to a death camp. The eighth grade read “Night,” the true narrative of Elie Weiesel’s experience in Auschwitz.

Caruolo, with the help of the HERC, has Holocaust survivors or their family members come discuss their experiences to the class and answer questions.

Caruolo explained that sometimes it is a lot of heavy information for the kids to take in, but they are always mature about it and the kids always seem to receive a very positive experience from learning about this part of history.

“I, myself, have no direct ties to the Holocaust, but even after the first time listening to a survivor I was inspired to the cause,” she said. “After working with the Holocaust Education and Resource Center I feel we have created a wonderful supportive friendship. They are always willing to help and answer questions when you have them.”

Caruolo found out she had won in early June and said, “I feel so honored. There are so many other teachers and schools represented who have larger classes and therefore more participation that could have been chosen. I am just so pleased to have the chance to work with them every year.”

Caruolo also won the Silverstein Grant for $150 toward her Holocaust Unit for next year.

She plans on using the money toward an art component to the Holocaust program. The Holocaust Education and Resource Center’s contest every year also has an art category. Next year, with the help of the Silverstein Grant and Jessica Hines, St. Kevin’s art teacher, Caruolo plans to have her students enter work for that contest as well.

“It will be just one more creative way students can express their knowledge and their feeling on the Holocaust,” Caruolo said.

Caruolo will be attending the HERC’s educator workshop this summer that helps teachers explore new methods of teaching the Holocaust.